Former Juventus defender Alessandro Birindelli says AC Milan have pulled off a coup with Mario Mandzukic's deal.

Mandzukic, formerly of Juve, has signed for Milan this week as a free agent.

Birindelli told TMW: "Beyond the esteem I have for the player, and I struggled to understand Juve's decision to send him away, accordingly they made a great purchase and they thought about it well.

"He and (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic take away some responsibility even from the youngest ones."

Mandzukic has signed with Milan to the end of the season.