Luca Toni is set to be joined at Bayern by a fellow Italian international and World Cup winner, as 32-year-old defensive specialist Massimo Oddo is poised to join Bayern on a season-long loan from AC Milan, subject to a medical. The deal between the German champions and the Rossoneri includes a purchase option in the Bavarians' favour.
"Massimo Oddo is a player who can operate anywhere on the right flank. His experience, his tactical nous and his technical ability will give us a real boost in quality," declared FCB boss Jürgen Klinsmann. The 2006 World Cup winner "is used to delivering the goods at the highest level“ and in the course of a long season "represents genuine extra depth in our squad.“
Long pursuit
With Willy Sagnol and Hamit Altintop both sidelined for the foreseeable future, and after Marcell Jansen's sudden switch to Hamburger SV, the FCB board opted for a swoop on the transfer market. "We've had our eyes on Massimo Oddo for some time," revealed Klinsmann, "so we've taken the chance to bring him in now.“
Oddo, who has scored twice in 34 appearances for his country, learned the trade in the AC Milan youth section, before an odyssey taking in Firenzuola, Monza, Lecce, SSC Naples, Hellas Verona and Lazio, ultimately ending up back in Milan in January 2007. He was a member of Milan's UEFA Champions League-winning team at the end of the 2006-7 season, although a knee injury caused him to miss Euro 2008.
Positive reaction
"We're delighted we've been able to move so quickly and bring in Massimo Oddo, an experienced and successful defender. Given the tasks which lie ahead, having another World Cup and Champions League winner in our ranks will do us plenty of good," a visibly satisfied chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge commented.
The FCB dressing room also reacted positively to the news. "I know him from our meetings with Milan the season before last, and also from the national team. He runs hard and he's not easy to play against," remarked Bastian Schweinsteiger, who came up against Oddo on the left side of the Bayern midfield. "He has certain qualities which we need. I think it's great Bayern have chosen to sign as good a player as this.“
Oddo is likely to make his debut after the forthcoming break for international matches when FCB travel to face promoted FC Köln in the Bundesliga.
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