AC Milan sign Salvatore Bocchetti

Spartak Moscow defender Salvatore Bocchetti has returned to Italian football with AC Milan.

The 28-year-old, who left Genoa for Russian side Rubin Kazan in 2010, has agreed to an initial six-month loan stint at San Siro.

Bocchetti joined Spartak in March 2013, but he has struggled to secure regular starting opportunities this season, which has brought about the switch to Milan.

Bocchetti is the third player to have departed Spartak this month, after Roman Shirokov and Tino Costa moved to FC Krasnodar and Genoa respectively.