AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani says they've been chasing new signing Riccardo Montolivo for 20 years!

Montolivo, 27, has joined Milan on a Bosman from Fiorentina.

"When Montolivo was just seven, we understood that he would become a great player," Galliani declared.

"However, his parents decided against a move to Milan in favour of allowing him to grow in the Atalanta youth ranks."

Galliani also revealed how the club was able to bring defender Mattia De Sciglio, now 19, into their youth set-up.

"We netted De Sciglio when he was 10-years-old," he explained. "We went to his club Cimiano and we got him for €500…

"This explains how fundamental it is to invest in youngsters and we are looking to do that in the best way possible."