AC Milan wrestling over Ibra’s transfer from Barcelona

ROME - The negotiation for the transfer of Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Barcelona to AC Milan is ongoing but difficult, the Swedish player’s agent was quoted as saying Thursday.

Mino Raiola told Radio 24 that the two clubs “are still very far from an agreement. We are still in the warm-up phase, that of exploration.

“Ibrahimovic obviously is following the development of the negotiation. It will be a long week, with meetings and reunions, but Ibrahimovic, luckily for him, has no club asking him to go. So he is relaxed.”

After a first meeting Wednesday with Barcelona president Sandro Rosell, Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said they scheduled to meet again Thursday.

“The negotiation is very expensive,” Galliani said. “We are trying. Also because we have a general agreement with the footballer.

“I am not leaving Barcelona. I am ready to stay until Tuesday, the last day of the market. We are doing our best to bring one more champion to Milan. I want to state that we do not foresee a technical exchange (of players).”

There have been rumours that Milan striker Marco Borriello could be offered to offset the cost of Ibra’s transfer fee.

Udinese striker Antonio Di Natale, meanwhile, turned down an offer from Juventus, seemingly due to pressure from fans.

The Udine side said through its web site that they have had no contacts with Juve and thanked their captain for the decision to stay on.