Soccer-Milan add Croatia striker Kalinic to array of signings

AC Milan have added Nikola Kalinic to their array of close season signings, after announcing that the Croatia forward had joined them from Fiorentina on Tuesday.

The seven-times European champions said they had signed Kalinic "on loan with an obligation to buy", but did not specify the length of the loan period. Chief executive Marco Fassone said his arrival had put the finishing touches to the new-look squad.

"Kalinic is the player we wanted, because of his experiences and quality," he said. "We've always talked about getting the right mix and this completes the backbone of the team alongside Leonardo Bonucci and Lucas Biglia."

"He completes the squad, we are happy and proud that he is a Milan player."

Milan have spent 190 million euros ($223 million) in the close season in a bid to end several years stuck in midtable in Serie A.

Previous signings have included Portuguese striker Andre Silva, Turkish midfielder and free-kick specialist Hakan Calhanoglu, Swiss left back Ricardo Rodriguez, Argentine midfielder Biglia and Italy defender Bonucci.

Kalinic scored 33 goals in 83 appearances in two seasons at Fiorentina, after joining them from Ukraine's Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.

The 29-year-old has also played for Hajduk Split in his homeland and English side Blackburn Rovers.

Milan have been under Chinese ownership since former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi agreed to sell the club to a Chinese-led consortium in a 740 million-euro deal in April.

Milan won 3-0 away to Crotone in their opening game of the season on Sunday. ($1 = 0.8508 euros)

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)