FIKAYO TOMORI has joined AC Milan permanently after they triggered his £24million transfer clause following a successful loan spell.
Tomori joined the Italians in January as he looked for more regular football having been frozen out by Chelsea.
And the centre-back impressed heavily in his five months in Milan, where he made 22 appearances, even scoring a goal.
His form convinced manager Stefano Pioli to make a move to sign Tomori on a permanent deal.
And Pioli had the backing to do so from legendary defender Paulo Maldini, the club’s current technical director.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Tomori will join on a five-year deal after his transfer clause was triggered.
Maldini has been a big part in the 23-year-old’s development in Serie A and spoke to him before and after every match.
Tomori told The Times in March: “You feel [Maldini’s] presence.
“As much as I’m playing for myself and for the team and the manager, I want to impress him.
“It’s like if you were an attacker and one day Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi was your sporting director and saying these words for you. It’s crazy.
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“Before every game, he talks and says come on and says well done after. If I haven’t played well he’s still there saying well done.”
Tomori made 22 appearances in Frank Lampard’s first season at Chelsea after returning to the club as manager in 2019.
But a year later, Lampard signed Brazilian veteran Thiago Silva, 36, on a free transfer from PSG.
It saw Tomori fall further down the defensive pecking order and following just four appearances last term, he moved to Milan.
During that time, Lampard was replaced by German Thomas Tuchel, who reverted to a back three and later won the Champions League.
But it appears Tuchel had no plans to bring Tomori back, allowing Milan to make a move for their man.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
