AC Milan have confirmed that their general manager Umberto Gandini has left the club after 23 years, with a move to Serie A rivals Roma looking likely.
Gandini is reportedly set to replace Walter Sabatini as sporting director of the Giallorossi in the coming days, with Sabatini tipped to take the place of Adriano Galliani as sporting director at Milan once their takeover by Chinese investors goes through before the end of the year.
The first step in that likely rotation has now been taken by Gandini.
"After 23 years at Milan, Umberto Gandini is leaving us," read a statement. "It is legitimate, dear Umberto, that the desire to gauge yourself in a different context has matured within you, but let it be known that you leave behind a huge regret and a lot of affection.
"This is what, in addition to your undoubted professional values, will remain forever in the hearts of all of us."
Gandini, who is also the first vice-chairman of the European Club Association (ECA) and has been on the ECA board since 2008, joined Milan in 1993 after working as a consultant for Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset group, for whom he was responsible for negotiation TV rights for sports.
His passage to Roma is expected to be confirmed next week, once their president James Pallotta arrives in the Eternal City for a series of meetings.
AC Milan's current majority shareholders Fininvest have confirmed that a deposit of €85 million has been received as part of an official takeover by the Sino-Europe Sports Investment Management Changxing Co.Ltd., which should go through by the end of the year.
After €15m was already paid on the act of signing a preliminary agreement on Aug. 5, the remainder of a €100m deposit has now been received "within the predetermined timeframe," according to a statement by the Fininvest group, which is owned by Berlusconi.
"Today, the Chinese investors have ensured the remaining €85m has been paid to Fininvest," read the statement. "This is an important step towards the 'closing' of the operation, foreseen within the end of the year."
Berlusconi's 31-year ownership of the Serie A club is therefore drawing to a close with the new owners expected to have completed their takeover ahead of the January transfer window, when they could then make investments in the playing staff.
Due to the uncertainty over the club's future, the Rossoneri were one of the least active clubs on the transfer market this summer, with just Jose Ernesto Sosa, Gianluca Lapadula, Gustavo Gomes, Mati Fernandez, Mario Pasalic and Leonel Vangioni arriving, the latter three all joining on loans.
Vincenzo Montella's men have started the season with a 3-2 win over Torino and a 4-2 defeat to Napoli.