MILAN. Apr 3: Franco Barest, the charismatic captain of Italian and European champions AC Milan, is likely to transfer to Japan in 1996 to finish out his career in the Japanese soccer league, club officials disclosed Monday, reports AP.

Milan's managing director Adriano Gallianl said Monday that "Barest's future is neither in Italy nor in Europe."

He suggested that the 34-year-old Italian player, one of the best ever European defenders, may leave Milan for Japan in March 1996.

Baresi's contract with AC Milan expires in June this ydar. Club sources said the player may extend it through February 1996 and leave In March, when the Japanese League begins.

Jubilo Iwata, the Japanese club which signed Italian striker Salvatore Toto” Schillaci last year, is one of the teams bidding for Barest and other European players.

Milan's sports dally Gazzetta dello Sport wrote Monday that Milan's veteran forward Daniele Massaro and Dutch Ruud Gullit, a former AC Milan star, are expected to Join Barest in Japan.

Barest has been playing with AC Milan since 1977. He was the captain of the Italian team which lost the World Cup finals to Brazil in Pasadena last year.