Aquilani set to leave Liverpool for good

Posted Saturday, November 19, 2011 by ESPN

Alberto Aquilani is likely to leave Liverpool and join AC Milan on a permanent deal, according to his agent Franco Zavaglia.

Aquilani joined Liverpool in the summer of 2009 but failed to make an impact at Anfield, struggling to come to terms with the physical nature of the English game.

He then joined Juventus for the whole of last season, playing 34 games for the Bianconeri in total, and while both clubs failed to agree on a fee for a permanent transfer, Aquilani was said to be confident in his chances of re-establishing himself at Liverpool after a fairly good season.

However, the Reds invested heavily over the summer, bringing in a handful of midfielders including Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson, and with Aquilani not in manager Kenny Dalglish's plans, the player was then loaned out to Milan for this season.

Since then, he has played a first-team role for the Rossoneri, and his agent Zavaglia believes it is only a matter of time before Aquilani ends his association with Liverpool and joins Milan permanently.

"We can without doubt consider Milan activating the buy-out clause to be a pure formality, especially as he'll soon reach the written parameters set by Milan and Liverpool," Zavaglia told Itasportpress.

The clause Zavaglia referred to was an agreement that Milan would be able to purchase Aquilani for a pre-determined fee should he play 25 games or more this season.

Already, he has appeared for the Rossoneri eleven times in the current campaign, and Zavaglia is certain Milan have been pleased with his performances so far.

"Alberto is doing well and I think this is clear for all to see."

Aquilani has been capped 21 times for Italy, and is hoping to keep his place in Cesare Prandelli's side for Euro 2012.