AC Milan have signed Argentinian striker Maxi López on loan from Calcio Catania with an option to make the deal permanent in the summer.

The 27-year-old former CA River Plate forward, who also played for FC Barcelona and RCD Mallorca in Spain and with FK Moskva in Russia, joined Catania following a loan spell at Brazilian club Grêmio FBPA in 2010 and scored 22 goals in 66 Serie A games with the Etnei.

Milan, who are currently without Antonio Cassano (heart surgery) and Pato (thigh strain) in attack, will face Arsenal FC in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 with the home leg scheduled for 15 February and the return on 6 March.

The Rossoneri are second in Serie A, one point behind leaders Juventus, and reached the Coppa Italia semi-finals on Thursday by overcoming S.S. Lazio.