Panucci wants to rejoin AC Milan

AC Milan are close to bringing Christian Panucci back to the club.

The right back was a star of the Milan youth system and won the European Cup with the club but left for Real Madrid in 1997.

Internazionale signed the defender last November on a contract that lasts until 2005 and pays Panucci nearly £2 million a season. They also paid £12 million in a transfer fee for the player.

Panucci has told Inter that he wants to play for Milan and has been in talks over the situation for the past week with his Inter bosses. If Milan can fund the move then Panucci - on duty for Italy at Euro 2000 next month - could return to his former club. The two Milan clubs rarely do business together in the transfer market and any move is likely to be slowed by politics.