Brazil's Cicinho keen on Italy move

Brazil international Cicinho, seen here in June 2005, has admitted he would welcome a move to Italy and dreams of playing for AC Milan.

Brazil international Cicinho has admitted he would welcome a move to Italy and dreams of playing for AC Milan.

"I want to play in Italy - it's been my dream since I was a child," the 25-year-old, whose full name is Cicero Joao De Cesare, told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

Asked which team he would like to play for, he replied: "AC Milan - they are the strongest team in Europe."

The Sao Paulo defender is regarded as Marcos Cafus heir in the Brazil side and he has set his sights on replacing his idol at AC Milan.

"My friend Cafu is at AC Milan. He is my idol. I was just a baby when he became a World Cup winner.

"It's an honour for me to be considered as his heir. It would be extraordinary to take his place at AC Milan. But why couldn't we play together?"

Cicinho, who on Wednesday was granted Italian citizenship by virtue of his Italian grandfather, recently extended his contract with Sao Paolo.

However, he is reported to have a buy-out clause in his contract that would allow him to leave if the right offer came in.

An attack-minded right full-back, Cicinho played in three of Brazil's five matches in the Confederations Cup which they lifted in June.

He wrote his name into the record books of the Copa Libertadores when he scored the 10,000th goal in the competition's history.