AC Milan loan flop De Ketelaere to Atalanta

AC Milan have loaned Charles De Ketelaere to Atalanta, the two Serie A clubs said on Wednesday, after the Belgium international flopped in his debut season in Italy.

In separate statements, Milan and Atalanta said De Ketelaere had moved on a season-long loan for a reported three million euros ($3.3 million) with an option to buy for 22 million euros, plus four million euros in add-ons.

The 22-year-old has been offloaded by Milan after a desperately disappointing year at the San Siro club, making little impact after signing for 35 million euros from Club Brugge last summer.

De Ketelaere, who can play as an attacking midfielder or a forward and has 12 caps for his country, failed to score a single goal in his 40 appearances in all competitions.

Milan have signed a host of players this summer after selling Sandro Tonali to Newcastle United in a deal worth up to 80 million euros, pushing De Ketelaere towards the door.

De Ketelaere's poor showings after arriving for such a high fee was one of the reasons why club icon Paolo Maldini and sporting director Frederic Massara were both sacked in June.

Milan begin their Serie A season at Bologna on Monday night while Atalanta are at Sassuolo on Sunday.