Former Sunderland chief Roberto de Fanti is delighted seeing AC Milan head-hunt Massimo Mirabelli.

Mirabelli is moving from Inter Milan's head of scouting to Milan as their new sporting director.

De Fanti, now an agent, had Mirabelli on his staff at Sunderland and recalled to TMW: "With Massimo I've known him for some time.

"As soon as I had the opportunity to fill the role of Director of Football at Sunderland it seemed a natural choice to entrust to a professional profile of a person of whom I have great esteem.

"I was able to get to know Mirabelli during trips abroad that we had together for professional reasons, and the excellent impression that was built was confirmed by the facts from every point of view."