AC Milan chief Ariedo Braida admits they rejected the chance to sign Lazio striker Miroslav Klose in the summer. The Germany international has been a revelation since his arrival on a Bosman from Bayern Munich.

Braida explained: "We did not take Klose for two main reasons. The first is related to the will of the attacker to move from Germany to a team that can guarantee him a starting spot. Milan, Juventus and Inter already had his role covered and could hardly satisfy the desire of the player.

"The second reason concerns the age of the attacker. If a club that aims for the Scudetto relies on a foreign player of 33 years, a veteran of two negative seasons, they are likely to encounter fierce criticism.

"Investing in the market also means to look a little to the future.

"Notwithstanding all that, Klose is a champion of an international level, that he's scored so many goals, no one can doubt him."