Vieri to leave Milan for Monaco

AC Milan have confirmed that they are to sell Christian Vieri to AS Monaco FC just six months after signing the Italian international striker on a two-year contract following his release from FC Internazionale Milano.

Tuesday medical
The 32-year-old crossed the Milan divide in July 2005 but failed to find the form which brought him 102 goals in 143 Serie A games for the Nerazzurri in the red and black of Milan, scoring just once in eight league outings this season. Although the transfer fee is yet to be announced, the Rossoneri said Vieri will undergo medical tests before signing for the French club tomorrow.

UEFA Cup
He will link up with two of his countrymen at the Stade Louis II, with Italian coach Franesco Guidolin having recently recruited Marco Di Vaio on loan from Valencia CF. Monaco are through to the last 32 of the UEFA Cup where they will play FC Basel 1893. Monaco will have to choose who to register between Di Vaio and Vieri for the remainder of their UEFA Cup campaign, because UEFA rules allow just one new registration of a player who has played for a different team in the same European season.

Lippi reassurance
Vieri - formerly of Atalanta BC, Juventus and Club Atlético de Madrid - will hope to rediscover his scoring touch as he looks to earn a place in Italy's 2006 FIFA World Cup squad, having previously scored 23 times in 49 internationals. "Following his progress abroad will be no problem, particularly as Monaco is so close to Italy," said Azzurri coach Marcello Lippi.

Amoroso in?
Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said yesterday that the sale of Vieri would allow the club to purchase a new striker ahead of the resumption of their UEFA Champions League campaign. The former Parma FC and Udinese Calcio striker Marcio Amoroso, currently playing in his native Brazil for São Paulo FC, has been linked with a switch to the San Siro.