Emerson Royal leaves Milan for Flamengo

Emerson Royal has left AC Milan to return to his native Brazil with Flamengo.

Emerson only spent one year at San Siro, having arrived from Tottenham Hotspur last year in a deal reportedly worth €15m plus €2m in add-ons.

However, he only made 17 Serie A appearances – 16 of them starts – as Milan finished a disappointing eighth and missed out on European qualification.

Almost all of his appearances came under Paulo Fonseca, as a calf injury sidelined him for almost the entirety of Sergio Concecaio's five-month reign, with Kyle Walker joining on loan from Manchester City to replace him at right-back.

Returning Rossoneri boss Massimiliano Allegri did not see Emerson as part of his plans, and he has now penned a contract to run until 2028 with Flamengo.

The Rio de Janeiro giants – who reached the last 16 of the Club World Cup before losing to Bayern Munich – will reportedly pay a total of €9m for the 26-year-old.

Emerson spent the first three years of his senior career in Brazil with Ponte Preta and Atletico Mineiro before joining Barcelona, who subsequently sent him to Real Betis for two separate loan spells.

Emerson's move to the Maracana has paved the way for Flamengo to sell another right-back, Wesley, to Roma. He arrived in the Italian capital for a medical on Sunday, ahead of completing a €30m transfer.