AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani: 'We tried to sign Axel Witsel'

AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani has revealed that the club tried to sign Axel Witsel before the close of the transfer window.

The Belgian international has been linked with a move to the Italian giants all summer, but Galliani said that a deal couldn't be struck with his club Zenit St Petersburg before the deadline despite months of negotiations.

Galliani told reporters: "We tried to the end for Witsel, but we knew it would finish this way."

Sinisa Mihajlovic signed four players during the summer, including strikers Carlos Bacca and Mario Balotelli, before he allowed Alessandro Matri to join Lazio and Hachim Mastour to sign for Malaga on loan deals yesterday.

Milan will take on bitter rivals Inter Milan in Serie A after the international break.