Milan: French international Geoffrey Kondogbia has completed his “dream” move from Monaco to Inter Milan, signing a five-year deal with the Serie A club after snubbing city rivals AC Milan at the 11th hour.
“Being a part of this great team is a dream come true. I want to be here for as long as possible,” Kondogbia told fans after completing his medical on Monday.
“As a kid I used to watch Inter play on TV, and now I’m joining this huge club. I will give my all.”
The 22-year-old Frenchman, who spent two seasons at Monaco after joining the Ligue 1 club from Sevilla, is expected to earn €4 million (Dh16.69 million) a season plus performance-related bonuses.
Monaco are expected to receive a fee believed to be in the region of 35 million euros.
Milan CEO Adriano Galliani said on Sunday he believed he had tied up Kondogbia’s move to the seven-time European champions on Friday afternoon.
“At 1.30 [pm] it was all done,” Galliani told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Monaco had given us the green light for the transfer at €40 million with payment spread over two years, €20 million and €20 million.”
However, Inter flew in with a late, improved offer that appeared to sway the player and his representatives. Kondogbia, who said he was convinced to move to the club by coach Roberto Mancini, is expected to earn more at Inter due to performance-related bonuses.
Galliani added: “After we exchanged the documentation, at 1.30 pm everyone disappeared. Obviously they changed their minds or the others offered more.”
Galliani has since suffered a backlash on social media, with angry Milan fans demanding his departure after failing to secure the services of the Frenchman, who had been courted by some of Europe’s top clubs.
