Italian star-forward Roberto Baggio is preparing to leave soccer powerhouse AC Milan and expatriate, Italy's largest daily Corriere della Sera reported today.
Manchester United of England's Premier League and Germany's Bayern Munich were among the clubs bidding for the 29-year-old player, Corriere said.Also some Japanese clubs were reported chasing Baggio, who cost AC Milan $12.5 million in one of Italy's most expensive transfers when the forward moved from Juventus of Turin before the 1995-96 season.
The report of the Milan daily came amid clear signals that Baggio was increasingly unhappy with AC Milan.
Often relegated on the substitutes bench although being one of AC Milan's leading scorers, Baggio's chances to get a steady place in the starting 11 dimmed further following the arrival of new coach Arrigo Sacchi.
Sacchi, who gave up his job with the Italian national team to rejoin AC Milan earlier this month, has been favoring physical rather than technical players.
Sacchi relegated Baggio on the bench in the two last matches and left the forward out of the lineup for today's league game against last-place Reggiana.
Sacchi had dropped Baggio also from the national team roster since 1995, although the player was a key to Italy's second-place finish in the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
AC Milan officials said Baggio's contract with the club, owned by former premier Silvio Berlusconi, expires in 1998 and did not comment on transfer rumors.
"Today's soccer (in Italy) is not good for technical players," Baggio said in a recent interview.
Several Italian leading players such as Gianfranco Zola, Gianluca Vialli and Fabrizio Ravanelli have transferred to the Premier League this year, lured by richer contracts and less stressing play conditions.