AC Milan have managed a major double coup in getting experienced goalkeeper Pepe Reina and Croatian defender Ivan Strinic on free transfers. Both players had been playing in the Serie A for Napoli and Sampdoria respectively and will add some high quality depth to the squad. It is expected that Reina, who is now 35 will be understudy to current No. 1 Donnarumma, unless another club puts in a high bid for the young goalkeeper. There were plenty of clubs reported to be after him during last summer’s transfer window before he signed a new contract at AC Milan.
With Spain now out of the World Cup, Reina was free to make the move to the Milan giants. Strinic is however, still involved in the World Cup so would have already agreed in principle to sign prior to 1st July. He will be hoping to extend his stay in Russia after Croatia beat Denmark to go through to the quarter-finals.
Reina and Strinic bring huge amounts of experience to the squad
Ufficiale: @PReina25 e Strinic sono rossoneri 👉🏻 https://t.co/rFG5nw6jUy
Official: Reina and Strinic are Rossoneri 👉🏻 https://t.co/UCPu1PZ484#weareacmilan 🔴⚫ pic.twitter.com/YlXQ6GZGhW— AC Milan (@acmilan) July 2, 2018
Strinic has played in Serie A for the last three seasons, spending two years at Napoli before moving to Sampdoria where he spent just one season. At 30 years old Strinic should still have a few good years of football to play before he retires. However, it looks like it will be a while before he can meet up with his new team mates, as Croatia are doing so well in the World Cup. They have surprised everyone with their top-level performances, particularly in the 3-0 hammering of Argentina.
Reina on the other hand should be fairly fresh, having been at the tournament as back-up for David De Gea before Spain were knocked out by hosts Russia in one of the biggest shocks of the tournament so far.
