Milan swap in prospect as Cassano and Pazzini prepare to jump ship

AC Milan forward Antonio Cassano is set for a move to their biggest rivals Inter, after rocking the club by declaring his intentions to leave.

Cassano, unhappy with the departures of players such as Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, feels the Rossoneri will be unable to compete for Serie A honours in the coming season.

As such, he is set for a switch to San Siro rivals Inter Milan, with Giampaolo Pazzini moving the other way in a surprise part-exchange deal.

The agreement will also see Inter receive £7m in addition to Italy international Cassano, who was impressive in his nation’s run to the final of Euro 2012 this summer.

AC Milan’s chief executive Adriano Gallani said of the prospective deal: “It’s a shame. I think that, despite the qualities of Cassano, it’s not a good idea to keep players against their will.

“It would not be good for Cassano or Milan. Let’s see how this situation evolves.”

It appears the situation is evolving at an alarming rate, with Cassano now thought to have agreed a two-year deal with Inter, and only Pazzini yet to agree personal terms.

Meanwhile, Cassano’s decision to quit Milan could be deemed surprising in light of him spending only an injury-plagued 18 months with the club.

Now 30-years-old though, he seems to feel his ambitions of challenging for the Champions League cannot be fulfilled with il Diavolo.

Of course, he will not be the first player to make the direct switch between the two Milan clubs, but he could well be the most high-profile.

Andrea Pirlo crossed the divide back in 2001, leaving Inter to join the Rossoneri, but little was known of the imperious playmaker back then.

Two part-exchange deals accompanied Pirlo’s departure too, as Christian Brocchi was swapped for Guly, and Paolo Ginestra became an Inter player in place of Matteo Bogani.

All that said, there is certain to be much scrutiny surrounding both Cassano and Pazzini when the Milan clubs lock horns this season.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.