Rome (AFP)

The French international striker Olivier Giroud, subscribed to the bench at Chelsea, will discover Serie A next season in the jersey of AC Milan, where he will allow star Zlatan Ibrahimovic to breathe more often.

He landed Thursday at Milan's Linate airport, an AFP photographer noted, the day after his arrival was confirmed by AC Milan technical director Paolo Maldini.

He should sign his contract in the next few hours.

Soon to be 35 years old, Giroud thus arrives in a championship where the age of the attackers does not generally prevent them from shining.

In addition to "Ibra" and his almost 40 years, still spearhead and soul of the Rossoneri, the Serie A nets still often tremble on strikes from Cristiano Ronaldo, top scorer last season at 36 with 29 goals, or Fabio Quagliarella, top scorer in activity who, at 38, extended the adventure for another year at Sampdoria.

Far from the English lawns where the youth is much more forward and after a difficult Euro lived in the shadow of the great ghost Karim Benzema, the 2018 world champion will discover a third European championship.

After having cut his teeth in Ligue 2, the native of Chambéry played in Ligue 1 in Montpellier (2010-12, with a league title in 2012) before joining the English Premier League (Arsenal from 2012 to January 2018, then Chelsea since).

With a nice track record during these English years: four English Cups, a Europa League and the Champions League this season.

- With Maignan and Theo Hernandez -

Chelsea announced in early June their extension until June 2022 under a clause of their contract, but the player never intended to continue with the "Blues", too often left on the bench for his liking by trainer Thomas Tuchel.

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In Milan, he seems to have the shoulders and the experience to represent a real alternative to "Ibra" and thus allow coach Stefano Pioli to better manage the Swede.

Which hardly played more than one in two games last season due to several injuries and the Covid-19.

Hit in the left knee at the end of the season, an injury that deprived him of the Euro with Sweden, "Ibra" underwent surgery on June 18 and no one yet really knows when he will be ready to start the season 100%.

Mario Mandzukic, recruited in January to take on this role of "vice-Ibra", was unable to perform due to his poor physique.

The Croatian left Lombardy after just a few months.

Giroud, with his physique and his ability to play with his back to goal, seems to have the right characteristics to blend into a one-point system, carved by Stefano Pioli for "Ibra".

It is undoubtedly less certain to see the two aligned together, even if the Italian press does not completely exclude it.

The one his "friends" call the "Grenoble phoenix" will also be able to share his experience in a team with little experience at the international level, which will undoubtedly need its support in the Champions League.

Giroud will also find a very "French" Milan with in particular Theo Hernandez, brother of international Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), and the third goalkeeper of the Blues Mike Maignan, recruited to fill the huge hole left in the goals by the departure to Paris SG from Gianluigi Donnarumma.

© 2021 AFP