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A late twist in the final hours of the transfer window scuppered Youssouf Fofana's move from AC Milan to Lyon. The French club failed to register the player, despite having reached an agreement with the Rossoneri earlier in the day.
The deal's collapse was attributed to strict and complex FIFA regulations imposed on Lyon. To finalize the transfer, they needed to free up salary budget space by selling another player with the same surname – Malick Fofana. However, this outgoing transfer did not materialize in time.
The news came as a cold shower for Lyon and Fofana himself, following two days of intense negotiations with AC Milan. The clubs had agreed on a loan deal worth 2 million euros with a 12 million euro option to buy. The Italian giants had even consented to cover a small portion of the French midfielder's salary.
Despite these agreements, Lyon was unable to finalize the necessary sale before the transfer window closed in France and Italy. Thus, a seemingly certain deal fell through at the last minute.
With Fofana's move to Lyon collapsing, AC Milan now enters a new phase in finding a new club for the French midfielder. Besiktas remains a serious option, with discussions with the Turkish club continuing into the afternoon. Coach Vincenzo Italiano is reportedly keen to bring the player to Istanbul.
The transfer window in Turkey closes in five days, providing ample time to complete a deal. Another Istanbul powerhouse, Galatasaray, is also monitoring the situation and remains in the running for the player's signature.
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