ROME: Bologna won the race for AC Milan player Roberto Baggio yesterday when he signed a two-year contract with the Italian club.

It was the player's personal choice which eventually decided the race between a vast number of contenders which included Italy's Udinese, Napoli and Vicenza, Spanish giants Barcelona and lately Borussia Dortmund of Germany and Derby County of England.

Some of these clubs were reported to have made more attractive offers than Bologna's. But on Tuesday, Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said the player would be free to choose his new club.

Baggio will earn $ 1.5 million per season at Bologna, a similar figure to what he earned at Milan but less than what Derby was reported to have offered.

Berlusconi reveals new plans for Milan

MILANELLO: AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi said yesterday that he had signed new stars and a new coach to begin another winning cycle and give fresh luster to a famous Italian label.

The Milan powerhouse had its worst year in a decade finishing 11th in the league standings and suffering early elimination in the Champions Cup.The new AC Milan included the return of former coach Fabio Capello, from Real Madrid, and 11 new players, including such stars as Ibrahim Ba, Patrick Kluivert, Winston Bogarde, Andre Cruz, Christian Ziege and Andreas Andersson.

International defender Paolo Maldini succeeds long-time sweeper Franco Baresi as captain. Baresi retired to become AC Milan vice-president.

Ravanelli holds talks with Everton

LIVERPOOL: Italian striker Fabrizio Ravanelli travelled to Liverpool yesterday to hold talks with Everton manager Howard Kendall about a move to the English Premier League club.

Everton's official telephone service for fans said Kendall had met Ravanelli, who is presently under contract at relegated Middlesbrough, at Manchester airport. They planned to hold talks after visiting the club's training facilities.

Liverpool hope to sign Paul Ince

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool hope to complete the signing of England international midfielder Paul Ince from Italy's Internazionale in the next few days. ``There are one or two things to sort out,'' manager Roy Evans said on the club's telephone service for fans yesterday. ``I hope to sort things out this week or early next week. Hopefully, in the next three to four days.''

Sydney Olympic bed tax problem solved

SYDNEY: A bed tax dispute threatening to jeopardise the Sydney Olympics was resolved by the New South Wales government.

Forced to give some ground, the NSW premier Bob Carr announced that the accommodation tax will be phased in, starting at the lower level of five per cent this September and rising to full 10 per cent by September 1998.

Welcoming the deal, Minister for Olympics and SOCOG President Michael Knight said ``this agreement overcomes a significant problem which had arisen in our preparations for the Games... We can now proceed with confidence.'' --

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.