AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani is delighted with their capture of Barcelona fullback Gianluca Zambrotta.
Galliani also gave an insight into just how close he came to luring Zambro on previous occasions.
"In 1998 we were very close to signing Zambrotta and again in 2006. In '98 it was practically a done deal.
"We had a big sum of money ready and we came to an agreement with Bari and Gianluca's father.
"Then Bari president Vincenzo Mataresse told me that Juve had offered a certain amount that we had to match.
"But we were already in talks with Serginho and so we left him to go to the Bianconeri.
"He has arrived 10 years late, but he is on good form playing on the left or the right, judging from his performance for Italy on Friday night."