MONACO (AFP) - AC Milan's unsettled striker Christian Vieri has agreed to sign for 2004 Champions League finalists Monaco on a one and a half year contract, the buying club confirmed.
The 32-year-old Italian international will be unveiled to the press on Tuesday after undergoing a medical and signing his contract.
A deal between the two clubs was struck late Sunday and Vieri agreed terms with the French first division side on Monday afternoon.
Vieri has failed to hold down a regular place in AC Milan's starting line-up this season and has scored just two goals in six months for last season's beaten Champions League finalists.
"I'm sorry he's gone," said AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani. "Because I remain convinced that he still could have done very well at Milan but I understand his decision, in this World Cup year."
Vieri will team up with fellow Italian Francesco Guidolin who replaced Didier Deschamps as Monaco coach in October and continues the club's habit of signing top class foreign strikers such as Euro 96 winner Oliver Bierhoff of Germany and Fernando Morientes of Spain.
Guidolin was delighted at his prospective new recruit.
"It is an excellent thing for me because he is a target man and the other strikers are more support players," said Guidolin.
"He was on the list of players I wanted. I will speak to him immediately about what I expect of him but what will be best is if he can play and be ready quickly."
Since joining AC Milan from city rivals Inter on a free transfer last summer, Vieri has scored just one goal in eight league appearances.
He played in five Champions League matches but failed to find the net and his only other goal came in his one Italian Cup appearance.
Vieri, who spent six seasons with Inter before making his surprise move to their arch rivals, is in danger of missing out on a place at the World Cup this year unless he is playing regularly.
Since making his Italy debut in March 1997, Vieri has scored 23 goals in 49 games for the Azzurri.
Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport said AC Milan are lining up Brazilian forward Amoroso from World Club Championship winners Sao Paolo to replace Vieri.
The 31-year-old played for Serie A sides Udinese and Parma before moving to Germany where he won the league title with Borussia Dortmund. After one year in Spain with Malaga he joined Sao Paolo.
The 32-year-old Italian international will be unveiled to the press on Tuesday after undergoing a medical and signing his contract.
A deal between the two clubs was struck late Sunday and Vieri agreed terms with the French first division side on Monday afternoon.
Vieri has failed to hold down a regular place in AC Milan's starting line-up this season and has scored just two goals in six months for last season's beaten Champions League finalists.
"I'm sorry he's gone," said AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani. "Because I remain convinced that he still could have done very well at Milan but I understand his decision, in this World Cup year."
Vieri will team up with fellow Italian Francesco Guidolin who replaced Didier Deschamps as Monaco coach in October and continues the club's habit of signing top class foreign strikers such as Euro 96 winner Oliver Bierhoff of Germany and Fernando Morientes of Spain.
Guidolin was delighted at his prospective new recruit.
"It is an excellent thing for me because he is a target man and the other strikers are more support players," said Guidolin.
"He was on the list of players I wanted. I will speak to him immediately about what I expect of him but what will be best is if he can play and be ready quickly."
Since joining AC Milan from city rivals Inter on a free transfer last summer, Vieri has scored just one goal in eight league appearances.
He played in five Champions League matches but failed to find the net and his only other goal came in his one Italian Cup appearance.
Vieri, who spent six seasons with Inter before making his surprise move to their arch rivals, is in danger of missing out on a place at the World Cup this year unless he is playing regularly.
Since making his Italy debut in March 1997, Vieri has scored 23 goals in 49 games for the Azzurri.
Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport said AC Milan are lining up Brazilian forward Amoroso from World Club Championship winners Sao Paolo to replace Vieri.
The 31-year-old played for Serie A sides Udinese and Parma before moving to Germany where he won the league title with Borussia Dortmund. After one year in Spain with Malaga he joined Sao Paolo.
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