Ex-Portugal midfielder Manuel Rui Costa has ended his contract with Serie A giants AC Milan and returned to his homeland to join Benfica.

The veteran playmaker will be returning to his old team Benfica, after spending twelve seasons in Italy’s Serie A.

Rui Costa signed for Fiorentina in 1994, where he spent the next seven years. In 2001 he moved to AC Milan, with whom he won the Champions League in 2004.

The talented attacking midfielder made his full international debut against Switzerland in March 1993 and first appeared in a major competition when England hosted EURO ‘96.

Rui Costa made his 94th and last appearance for Portugal, as a substitute in the defeat to Greece in the final’s of EURO ‘04, when they hosted the tournament.

In a statement from the official AC Milan website, the club gave thanks to Rui Costa for his services saying:

‘A.C. Milan communicates that it has ended the contract with Manuel Rui Costa.

‘A.C. Milan would like to thank Rui Costa for his splendid behaviour on and off the pitch and his wonderful technical contribution over the course of five years in a Rossoneri shirt where he won a Serie A title, an Italian Cup, a League Super Cup, a Champions League and European Super Cup.’

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