Italian fullback Gianluca Zambrotta, who played at Barcelona for two seasons, has joined AC Milan, the Italian first division club said on Saturday, without giving further contract details.

The 31-year-old Zambrotta therefore returns to the Serie A where he excelled at Bari (1997-1999) and then particularly at Juventus (1999-2006).

He left the Turin club in the summer of 2006 for Barcelona following the match-fixing scandal which had rocked Italian football.

Zambrotta was also crowned a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006 and has played 71 times for his country, scoring two goals. On Monday he will fly with the Italian team to Austria for the June 7 to 29 Euro 2008 finals.

Zambrotta's arrival at AC Milan will compensate for the departure of two fullbacks, Brazilians Cafu and Serginho.