Contra swaps Milan for Madrid

Milan AC have sold Romanian international Cosmin Contra to Club Atlético de Madrid for a fee of €8m.

Famous five
Contra becomes the fifth player to swap Milan for Madrid following the arrivals at the Vicente Calderón of Fabricio Coloccini, Javi Moreno, José Mari and Demetrio Albertini.

UEFA Cup run
The 27-year-old right-back joined Milan from Deportivo Alavés in 2001 and played 29 league matches last season, scoring three goals. He shone for Alavés in the 2000/01 season when they reached the UEFA Cup final, his third and final season with the Basque club.

Nesta in
Milan added another defender to their ranks before the transfer deadline with the €30.2m purchase of Alessandro Nesta from S.S. Lazio. The Rossoneri will be without the injured Brazilian Roque Junior through injury until December at least.