Although Milan have signed the United States centre-back Oguchi Onyewu, it remains to be seen whether the transfer deal can quell supporter unrest over their transfer policy.
The 27-year-old, who impressed in the US side's run to the Confederations Cup final last month, has joined on a free transfer from Standard Liège and penned a three-year contract. Onyewu holds a Belgian passport and will therefore not count as one of the two non-EU players Italian sides are allowed to sign each season.
Milan's interest in the defender had barely been mentioned in the media and his signing comes just a day after hundreds of fans protested at the first day of the club's pre-season training.
Ultra fans chanted slogans and unveiled banners criticising the owner Silvio Berlusconi and the decision to sell their playmaker Kaka to Real Madrid for €67m.
The Rossoneri, who lost coach Carlo Ancelotti to Chelsea having finished third in Serie A last season, had previously signed only the Brazil defender Thiago Silva and little-known young players. They are seeking a new striker with the Real forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Sevilla's Luis Fabiano, the Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor and VfL Wolfsburg's Edin Dzeko in the frame.
Onyewu could end up partnering Silva in central defence after captain Paolo Maldini retired at the end of last season and the ageing Alessandro Nesta and Kakha Kaladze's susceptibility to injury.
Milan, now coached by the rookie Brazilian Leonardo, have also announced that midfielder Massimo Ambrosini will be the new captain.
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