Real Madrid midfielder Luis Figo has agreed
to sign a two-year deal with Inter Milan, Spanish media reported on
Wednesday.
Radio Marca said the 32-year-old Portuguese international would travel
to Milan on Thursday to have a medical and sign a contract with the
Serie A club for a reported salary of 4.5 million euros ($5.54 million)
a year.
The former World and European Player of the Year, who fell out with Real
coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo after being consigned to the bench for the
latter part of last season, had been given permission to negotiate with
other clubs.
Figo joined Real in 2000 in one of the most controversial transfers in
Spanish football history when newly elected club president Florentino
Perez paid a then world record $56 million to buy him out of his
contract with arch-rivals Barcelona.
The midfielder, viewed as Real's first Galactico signing, helped them to
the league title in his first season at the club and played an important
part in their victories at the 2002 European Cup and the 2003 Spanish
championship.
Figo, who had a year to run on his Real contract, agreed recently to
come out of international retirement and has made it clear he wants to
continue playing for Portugal until next year's World Cup.
If he does sign for Inter, he would be the fourth Real Madrid player to
join the Serie A side in the last 12 months.
Argentine midfielder Esteban Cambiasso joined Inter last year and
compatriots Santiago Solari and Walter Samuel have followed the same
route in the close season.
