AC Milan defender Daniele Bonera is delighted to have extended his stay at the San Siro until 2013.

Bonera, 28, has had a difficult season and has rarely played because of injury.

And the Italy defender, who arrived from Parma in 2006, admits the offer of a new deal is a big boost for him.

"I'm very happy because this renewal has arrived for me at a delicate and difficult time," he told Milan Channel.

"I have not played at all for around five months and the club's desire to extend my contract is for me a great show of faith which motivates me to have more motivation and responsibility."

It will be welcome news for Milan who have been going through a tough time of late.

They only managed to sneak into the automatic Champions League places in the last match of the season, a day which also saw coach Carlo Ancelotti reveal he was leaving for Chelsea.

Moreover, Kaka looks ever more likely to follow him out of the San Siro with the Brazil playmaker's move to Real Madrid set to be confirmed Monday.

However, Bonera is confident Milan will move forward again.

"It's odd times for Milan fans and I understand that," he added. "I can still calm all the fans by saying that in my last few meetings with general manager Adriano Galliani I saw that the club have never lost that great desire to do well.

"We talked about the future of this squad.

"I still consider Kaka as a team-mate, he is a symbol and in certain ways the perfect team-mate.

"He is a great person, never over the top. At this moment the club are making evaluations which I'm not responsible for, so I can't possibly judge."