Juliano Belletti for milan

#skysports.com

Milan close in on Barca star

Reports in Italy suggest that Milan are close to the capture of Barcelona full-back Juliano Belletti.

The Serie A giants are known to be in the market for a right-back, but were thought to have trained their sights on Lazio's Massimo Oddo.

However, with the Roman outfit rebuffing a €6million (£4million) offer for Oddo, Milan are understood to have swapped targets.

Barca are well stocked at right-back with Gianluca Zambrotta and Oleguer, as well as Belletti, on their books.

All three have been given a chance this season although it is Belletti who played the most recent league match against Atletico Madrid.

However, the chance to cash in on a player who will turn 31 next year is understood to appeal to the Catalans with Milan reportedly ready to offer around €5million (£3.35million) for the Brazilian international.

That would represent a €1million profit for Barca who signed Belletti from Villarreal in the summer of 2004.

He has proved an astute signing by Frank Rijkaard and was the club's unlikely hero in last season's UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal when he scored a late winner.