Inter midfielder Muntari joins AC Milan on loan

Milan: AC Milan have confirmed the signing of Sulley Muntari on loan from city rivals Inter for the rest of the season, when he becomes a free agent.

The Ghana international, who is currently on Africa Cup of Nations duty, has featured just four times in Serie A for Inter this season but will provide valuable cover for the Rossoneri in midfield, with recent arrival Alexander Merkel ruled out for two months with a knee injury.

Inter signed Muntari from Portsmouth in 2008 for a fee of 11.6 million Pounds, and while he initially impressed, scoring the winner in his first derby match against Milan, he has slowly slipped down the pecking order and has never come close to justifying his price tag.

Muntari spent last season on loan at Sunderland but failed to earn a permanent deal. He has been repeatedly linked with a move in recent months, with Napoli and Galatasaray both said to have been interested in signing the 27-year-old.

However, it is Milan who have now pounced after seeing Merkel join Mathieu Flamini, Gennaro Gattuso and Alberto Aquilani on the sidelines.

Muntari is currently on duty at the African Nations Cup, and he will link up with his new teammates at the end of Ghana's involvement.

In other activity, Inter signed Colombia midfielder Fredy Guarin and Sampdoria's Angelo Palombo on the last day of the winter transfer market on Tuesday but sold key midfielder Thiago Motta to big-spending Paris Saint-Germain.

Milan also completed the signing of teenage striker Philipp Prosenik from Chelsea.

Prosenik started well in England but has had lengthy spells on the sidelines because of serious injuries. The 18-year-old striker is the son of former Austria midfielder Christian Prosenik.

Guarin moves to Inter from Porto, initially on a loan deal, but the Serie A giants can make the move permanent in the summer and the player has already signed a contract until 2016.

"I think he will give us a huge helping hand," Inter coach Claudio Ranieri said.

No financial details were given for the Motta deal, but reports in France and Italy estimated the transfer at 10 million Euros.

Guarin, who has 36 caps for Colombia, has won nine trophies with Porto, including two league titles and last season's Europa League.

Inter also have the option to make Palombo's move permanent after the midfielder brought an end to a spell of almost 10 years at Samp.

"Inter are a huge squad, it's a huge occasion for me," Palombo said.