Milan rule out Toni move
December 18, 2009
Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has ruled out a January move for Luca Toni to the Serie A club. Galliani emphasized the fact that Milan already have enough forwards since the squad includes three strikers.
Out-of-favor Bayern Munich striker Toni has fallen out with his manager Louis van Gaal and has insisted that he plans to leave in January.
David Beckham and Dominic Adiyah will move to the San Siro in the New Year but Galliani insists that the two players will be the only Winter signings.
“In January, only Beckham and Adiyah will arrive,” said Galliani.
“I have said there will be a new player with the features of Pato and Ronaldinho, but not for now.
“This is an idea for the summer. Luca Toni? We have three strikers already and are okay with that.”
Parma are rumored to be interested in veteran hit-man Filippo Inzaghi. However, 65 year-old Galliani said there is no way Inzaghi would be allowed to move away from Milan.
“Inzaghi to Parma? We’ll not let him go away.”
Meanwhile, Luca Toni says he won’t close the door on a move to England or Spain. The Italian target man enjoyed a wonderful stint at Fiorentina after impressing for Palermo and is said to prefer a move back to Italy.
Tags: adriano galliani, Bayern, David Beckham, dominic, Dominic Adiyah, England, filippo inzaghi, fiorentina, hit man, Italy, italy milan, louis van gaal, luca toni, Milan, Munich, new year, Palermo, parma, pato, ronaldinho, San, san siro, Spain, stint, striker, strikers, target man, Toni, winterRelated posts
Real´s Huntelaar heading to AC Milan – report
August 6, 2009
Unhappy Real Madrid striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is poised to sign for AC Milan, Gazzetta dello Sport claimed Thursday.
AC Milan annonced Wednesday they were on the lookout for a top class striker and, says the report, will pay 15 million euros for the Dutchman who would be given a contract until 2013 with an annual net salary of three million euros.
Huntelaar, who will turn 26 years old on August 12, finished as the Dutch league’s top scorer with 33 goals in 2007-2008 when he played for Amsterdam giants Ajax.
He then moved to Real on a four-and-a-half-year deal in December 2008 for a fee of 27 million euros but since then he has played only 19 matches for a return of eight goals.
Last month Huntelaar tried in vain to get out of his contract with Real in a bid to join Stuttgart in Germany’s Bundesliga.
It now appears he could resurrect his career, if given the chance, at the side owned by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
The Serie A club have been quiet on the transfer market this summer but Berlusconi said Wednesday this is about to change.
“The club have freed up funds and commissioned (club vice-president) Adriano Galliani to purchase a top striker,” Berlusconi told a press conference at the club’s Milanello base.
“The names (of the strikers) you already know,” he said.
The club lost their best forward with the sale of Brazilian Kaka to Real Madrid. But reports from Italy claim the club are chasing Brazilian Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Huntelaar and Peruvian Claudio Pizarro (Chelsea).
AC Milan’s current strikers include Brazilians Ronaldinho and Pato and Italians Filippo Inzaghi and Marco Borriello.
ROME (AFP)
Tags: ac milan, Amsterdam, brazilians, CHELSEA, Claudio Pizarro, claudio pizarro chelsea, dutch league, dutchman, filippo inzaghi, gazzetta dello sport, Germany, half year, italian prime minister, Italy, klaas jan, klaas jan huntelaar, luis fabiano, MADRID, Marco Borriello, Milan, milanello, pato, prime minister silvio, prime minister silvio berlusconi, real madrid, ROME, SEVILLA, silvio berlusconi, strikers, top scorerRelated posts
AC Milan chasing ´a top class striker´: Berlusconi
August 5, 2009
AC Milan are on the lookout for a ‘top class striker’ for the new season, club owner and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Wednesday.
The Serie A club have been very quiet on the transfer market this summer, but Berlusconi warned this is about to change.
“The club have freed up funds and commissioned (club vice-president) Adriano Galliani to purchase a top striker,” Berlusconi told a press conference at the club’s Milanello base.
“The names (of the strikers) you already know,” he said.
The club lost their best forward with the sale of Brazilian Kaka to Real Madrid. But the Italian media have speculated that the club are chasing three strikers including Brazilian Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Holland’s Klas-Jan Huntelaar (Real Madrid) and Peruvian Claudio Pizarro (Chelsea).
“Milan already have a battalion of top level strikers but (coach) Leonardo thinks they will not be enough for the championship and two matches a week (with the Champions League),” said Berlusconi.
AC Milan strikers include Brazilians Ronaldinho and Pato, Italians Filippo Inzaghi and Marco Borriello.
And Berlusconi insisted that they would not be selling Italian intenrational midfielder Andrea Pirlo to Chelsea.
“Andrea Pirlo is not for sale,” stressed Berlusconi. “He’s staying with us and will finish his career at Milan. We’ve received substantial offers but he’s staying. It was Leonardo’s main request.”
Berlusconi added that he was “very happy” with new Brazilian coach Leonardo.
“After the first weeks working with him, Galliani and the players confirmed it was the right choice. That’s why we’re very confident.”
ROME (AFP)
Tags: andrea pirlo, brazilians, CHELSEA, Claudio Pizarro, claudio pizarro chelsea, club owner, club vice president, filippo inzaghi, Galliani, Holland, italian media, italian prime minister, Jan Huntelaar, kaka, leonardo, luis fabiano, MADRID, Marco Borriello, Milan, milanello, pato, prime minister silvio, prime minister silvio berlusconi, real madrid, ROME, ronaldinho, SEVILLA, silvio berlusconi, strikersRelated posts
Boca Juniors take third place at Audi Cup
July 31, 2009
Boca Juniors won the match for third place at the Audi Cup in Munich, beating AC Milan 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 result.
Thiago Silva put Milan ahead after 26 minutes, as the Italians looked to have recovered from Wednesday’s 4-1 defeat to hosts Bayern.
But the Argentinians scored through Lucas Viatri with just three minutes to go, and penalties were needed to decide which team was to finish third at this inaugural Audi Cup.
In the shoot-out, both sides had already missed one penalty when Milan’s Pato had the final spot kick saved by keeper Abbondanzieri, thereby handing the victory to Boca.
Jonathan Roorda
Tags: ac milan, argentinians, audi cup, Bayern, boca juniors, hosts, italians, Lucas Viatri, match, Milan, Munich, pato, roorda, shoot out, Silva, thiago silva, three minutes, victoryRelated posts
Ronaldinho ready to lead Milan to glory
July 18, 2009
AC Milan playmaker Ronaldinho has insisted he is ready to fill the boots left by departed Brazilian compatriot Kaka during the coming season.
Ronaldinho will begin his second season in Italy with memories of a disappointing first campaign fresh in his mind but with Kaka having moved on to Real Madrid, he knows there will be added responsability on him this time around.
Having begun well during his first season at Milan, Ronaldinho fell out of favour with former coach Carlo Ancelotti over the second half of the campaign as the now-Chelsea boss preferred an attacking triumvirate comprising Kaka, Pato and Filippo Inzaghi.
But with Kaka gone and Brazil compatriot Leonardo the new coach, Ronaldinho believes his time has come to shine once again and try to reproduce the form he showed at Barcelona when earning world player of the year awards in 2004 and 2005.
“I’ve naturally become the leader of this group, day after day,” he told the Saturday edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, insisting though that he does not feel any added responsibility.
“I feel something much more important: faith, from my team-mates, the club, the atmosphere.
“Responsibility is just a consequence and that’s a pleasure and not a concern in any way.
“Last year I started well and then things took a down turn because I got injured and Ancelotti stopped playing me.
“This time I want to have a great season, from the first game to the last.
“Aims develop, a bit like Milan. Last year our aim was to qualify for the Champions League, now we want to win it.”
And as the 28-year-old tries to recapture his Barcelona form, he insists he has a good chance as he is also nearing his Barcelona weight, an issue that has been a source of criticism against the former Paris St Germain player these last two seasons due to an expanding waist-line.
“I feel good, I’m very committed, I’m motivated. I’ve lost a few kilos and I’m close to my fight-weight at Barcelona,” he said.
“And with respects to last season I’m more adapted to life in Italy, the language, the way of life, friendships. I feel happy here.”
ROME (AFP)
Tags: ac milan, added responsibility, Barcelona, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, compatriot, filippo inzaghi, first game, gazzetta dello sport, Germain, good chance, Italy, kaka, la gazzetta dello, la gazzetta dello sport, leonardo, Milan, PARIS, paris st germain, pato, playmaker, real madrid, responsability, ROME, ronaldinho, second season, Serie A, team mates, triumvirate, waist lineRelated posts
Berlusconi expects Ronaldinho to take centre stage
July 13, 2009
AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi said he expects Ronaldinho to make up for the loss of Brazilian countryman Kaka this coming season.
Milan sold star player Kaka to Real Madrid for 67 million euros and have so far failed to attract any major signings to the club over the summer.
They had been trying to land a striker but missed out on VfL Wolfsburg’s Bosnian forward Edin Dzeko and are unwilling to meet Sevilla’s asking price for Brazil starter Luis Fabiano.
It has left fans frustrated, fearing the club will not be able to improve on last season’s third place finish in Serie A.
But Berlusconi, the Italy Prime Minister, says it is high time for Ronaldinho — Milan’s marquee signing last summer — to step up and show the form that saw him twice crowned world player of the year.
“He needs to be the extra man this season, that’s the responsibility of a sale we were forced into making,” Berlusconi told Mediaset.
“But this (sale of Kaka) will give Ronaldinho space. All the other players also want this to be Ronaldinho’s year. He’s 29 and in top shape physically.
“All he needs now is the desire to be decisive for this Milan team and I believe we can have faith in him.”
As for signing his compatriot Fabiano, Berlusconi is adamant his team will not be held to ransom.
Milan are rumoured to have offered 14 million euros while Sevilla want something closer to 20 million euros.
“I don’t know what chance there is of Luis Fabiano arriving but this season we want to concentrate on youth,” added the president.
“We’ve added Gianmarco Zigoni, who is a promissing young player and that’s the direction we’re pointing to.
“Then there’s (Marco) Borriello, Pato, (Filippo) Inzaghi; we’re not lacking in attack.
“We’ll see, we’re not going to spend silly money in a moment such as this when we are experiencing financial difficulties.”
ROME (AFP)
Tags: A. But, ac milan, asking price, Borriello, centre stage, compatriot, countryman, edin dzeko, extra man, Filippo, filippo inzaghi, financial difficulties, high time, Inzaghi, Italy, luis fabiano, MADRID, Marco, Marco Borriello, mediaset, Milan, milan team, pato, real madrid, ROME, ronaldinho, Serie A, SEVILLA, silvio berlusconi, star player, VfL, world player of the yearRelated posts
Inzaghi still enjoying his football
April 21, 2009
ROME (AFP) – He may be 35 but Filippo Inzaghi has become an increasingly important element in the AC Milan team this season.
The penalty-box predator scored his second hat-trick within two months on Sunday in Milan’s 5-1 hammering of Torino to take his tally to nine goals in his last six matches.
He more than anyone else has made the difference in Milan’s recent resurgence that has seen them join Juventus in joint second place in Serie A.
But when the season began, Inzaghi looked likely to play no more than a bit part with the likes of Ronaldinho, Andrei Shevchenko, Pato, Kaka and Marco Borriello also competing for forward positions.
In fact, before the turn of the year, most of his starts came in the UEFA Cup, where coach Carlo Ancelotti rotated his squad to give fringe players a game.
But now the veteran revealed he is loving his new lease of life.
“I’m still having fun, especially when I read in the papers that Milan don’t have a big strong forward who can score with his head. That motivates me,” he said.
Two of Inzaghi’s goals against Torino came from close range headers while a third header — all from David Beckham crosses — also found the net but was ruled out for offside.
The goals took Inzaghi’s Serie A count to 149, putting him second amongst active forwards behind AS Roma’s Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero of Juventus.
And his run in the first team — he has started Milan’s last seven matches out of only 10 league starts this season — looks set to continue.
“Right now he’s a vital player for us,” said Ancelotti.
Tags: A., ac milan, Alessandro Del Piero, andrei shevchenko, carlo ancelotti, David Beckham, filippo inzaghi, forward positions, francesco totti, hat trick, juventus, kaka, Marco Borriello, Milan, milan team, new lease, offside, pato, penalty box, resurgence, Roma, ROME, ronaldinho, s francesco, Serie A, UEFA CupRelated posts
Pato is being picked on, moans Galliani
April 16, 2009
MILAN, Italy (AFP) – AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has demanded that referees give more protection to star teenage striker Pato.
Milan have been complaining in recent weeks that Pato is being targetted by defenders and Galliani is worried for the Brazilian.
“He is being scientifically targetted the moment he steps on the pitch with the hope that, given that he is young, he will become a peripheral figure, something that happens on occasions,” complained Galliani.
“Defenders have always kicked forwards but the treatment dealt out to Pato is a little excessive.
“But it’s up to the referees to see if things are legal or not. Referees shouldn’t protect anyone but they have to put the brakes on violent play and I hope they’ll do so in the next match.”
Milan, who host lowly Torino on Sunday, sit third in Serie A, just two points behind second-placed Juventus and four ahead of Genoa in fourth.
With leaders Inter Milan 12 points ahead of them, Milan’s aim is merely to finish in the top three and ensure they qualify directly for the group stages of next season’s Champions League.
Even so, the feeling in the San Siro is that second place is a real possibility.
“I don’t like to make predictions, Juve have two points more than us but behind us there are Genoa, who are playing really well, and of course Fiorentina, we’ll see what happens but it will be difficult (to claim second place),” added Galliani.
Tags: ac milan, adriano galliani, brakes, champions league, forwards, genoa, inter milan, Italy, juve, match, Milan, milan italy, occasions, pato, pitch, referees, San, san siro, Serie A, striker, torino, vice presidentRelated posts
Inzaghi joins 300 club, Inter maintain lead
March 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) – Filippo Inzaghi racked up 300 career goals as the veteran striker bagged a brace in AC Milan’s 5-1 stroll at Siena on Sunday that boosted their quest to secure third place in Serie A.
Inter Milan maintained their seven-point lead over Juventus at the top as they defeated Fiorentina 2-0 at the San Siro thanks to two goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
AS Roma’s bid to earn a top four spot, and the final Champions League qualifying berth, took a knock as their injury-ravaged side was held 2-2 at Sampdoria.
But in the picturesque Truscan city of Siena it was Inzaghi’s day as the 35-year-old took his tally to five goals in his last two matches.
"Today I’m celebrating an achievement that fills me full of pride," said Inzaghi.
"Destiny is an incredible thing because my first goal was for Leffe and I also scored it away to Siena and today I’ve reached this 300 milestone again against Siena."
Andrea Pirlo scored from the spot and Pato added two more while Massimo Maccarone scored Siena’s consolation.
As well as taking home three points, Milan also saw the return to action of Brazilians Kaka and Ronaldinho following injury.
There was one negative, though, as goalkeeper Christian Abbiati was stretchered off in the first half with suspected knee ligament damage that could see him sidelined for six months.
Their first goal was a little soft as Houssine Kharja was harshly penalised for a foul on French midfielder Mathieu Flamini with Pirlo stroking home the penalty.
It was a veteran pair who combined for Milan’s second just before the break as David Beckham swung over a corner that Inzaghi tapped home at the back post.
Any uncertainty over the result was ended by teenage Brazilian Pato who scored with a long drive 10 minutes after the break.
After Maccarone pulled a goal back Inzaghi latched onto a delightful pass from Pirlo to fire home at the near post on 71 minutes before Pato added the fifth, 12 minutes from time.
Fiorentina came close to breaking the deadlock in Milan when Alberto Gilardino teed up Adrian Mutu but the Romania captain shot straight at Julio Cesar’s legs.
They were made to pay on 11 minutes when goalkeeper Sebastien Frey tried to punch clear a Mario Balotelli free-kick but he pushed the ball into Ibrahimovic who reacted quickest to nod home the rebound.
Gilardino brought a fine save out of Julio Cesar with a clever flick and after the break Mutu squandered another excellent opportunity by neither shooting nor crossing to Gilardino but dragging the ball well wide of the far post.
But Ibrahimovic settled things four minutes into stoppage time with a rocket of a free-kick from 30 yards that left Frey with no chance as Inter rebounded from their midweek Champions League exit at the hands of Manchester United.
In Genoa, Roma were also looking to bounce back from their Champions League defeat to Arsenal and they were off to a flying start as Max Tonetto crossed for Julio Baptista to slide the ball home at the back post on seven minutes.
Giampaolo Pazzini scored a brace to put the hosts in the driving seat but Brazilian Baptista added a penalty late on to earn a point.
Roma played half an hour with 10 men after Marco Motta was dismissed and coach Luciano Spalletti was pleased with his team’s fighting spirit.
"I congratulated my lads, they fought hard and they deserved (the point), even with 10 men we were looking for a winner," said Spalletti.
"In this match we played how I want us to right to the end of the season. There are still many matches ahead and 30 points to be won."
Former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni began his career on the Napoli bench with a 1-1 draw at rock bottom Reggina, meaning Napoli still have not won since early January.
On Saturday Juventus kept in the title hunt with a 4-1 defeat of Bologna.
Written by; AFP
Tags: A.Inter, ac milan, Adrian, alberto gilardino, andrea pirlo, Baptista, brazilians, breaking the deadlock, christian abbiati, David Beckham, destiny, filippo inzaghi, final champions league, genoa, inter milan, Italy, julio baptista, julio cesar, juventus, kharja, knee ligament damage, leffe, luciano spalletti, Manchester, Marco Motta, Mario Balotelli, massimo maccarone, Mathieu Flamini, Max Tonetto, Milan, Mutu, napoli, pato, Roberto Donadoni, Roma, Romania, ROME, San, san siro, sebastien frey, Serie A, seven point, Siena, veteran pair, veteran striker, zlatan ibrahimovicRelated posts
Hat-trick hero Inzaghi steals Beckham show
March 9, 2009
MILAN, Italy (AFP) – Veteran forward Filippo Inzaghi stole the show from David Beckham with a hat-trick as AC Milan returned to winning ways in a 3-0 success over Atalanta at the San Siro on Sunday.
The script seemed to have been written for Beckham to score the winner on the same day that it was announced he would stay at Milan until the end of the season, but instead it was his 35-year-old team-mate whose treble proved decisive.
Perhaps more important for Milan, who’ve been in disarray on the pitch recently, going out of the UEFA Cup 10 days ago and losing at Sampdoria in the league last weekend, is that the victory gave them a five-point gap over fourth-placed Fiorentina, who lost 2-0 at home to Palermo.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti said Inzaghi had helped lift the club out of a crisis.
"He gave us a real helping hand. It was a tough match and for most of the first half Atalanta caused us problems," he said.
"Then Pippo’s ability to find the right place to be in allowed us to end the match well.
"We were in a crisis and now I hope that this result has put an end to the crisis."
Only the top three in Serie A will go straight into next season’s Champions League group stages with the fourth place finisher having to negotiate two qualifying rounds.
With his contract uncertainty behind him, Beckham seemed to have a new lease of life and he was even given a free role behind forwards Inzaghi and Pato by Ancelotti.
The former England captain initially thrived in that position, dictating the play with his array of passing.
One raking 50-yard crossfield ball sent Pato scampering away towards goal while a clever flick with the outside of his boot to find Mathieu Flamini drew gasps and a round of applause from the stands.
His crosses were also causing havoc and it was from one of those that Milan took a seventh-minute lead.
Atalanta failed to clear a dangerous ball in from Beckham and Marek Jankulovski picked up the loose ball before firing it across the box for the unmarked Inzaghi to poke home.
Andrea Pirlo also tried to muscle in on the Beckham show and planted a 30-yard free-kick onto the roof of the net.
The visitors were at times dangerous and Tiberio Guarente forced Christian Abbiati into making a diving one-handed save on the half hour.
Abbiati was soon called back into action to keep out a Gianvinto Plasmati header at his near post as Atalanta caused problems for Milan’s backline in the air.
After the break a clever Beckham pass played in Pato but Andrea Consigli rushed out to block his attempted dink finish from close range.
The fragility of a single goal lead was brought home on 64 minutes, though, as Atalanta’s Brazilian midfielder Ferreira Pinto flashed a shot just past the far post.
So it was with as much with relief as joy that the crowd met Inzaghi’s second on 71 minutes as the goalmouth predator for once beat the offside trap to latch onto Pato’s chip and take the ball around Consigli before slotting home.
And moment’s later Inzaghi was once again in the right place at the right time to tap in Gianluca Zambrotta’s pass from close range.
After that Ancelotti took both Inzaghi and Beckham off to give the fans the chance to show their appreciation for both players.
There was no change to the top three in Serie A as Inter Milan and Juventus both won on Saturday, 2-0 at Genoa and 1-0 at Torino respectively.
Serie A top scorer Marco Di Vaio also scored a hat-trick as Bologna thrashed Sampdoria 3-0.
Written by: AFP
Tags: ac milan, Andrea Consigli, andrea pirlo, atalanta, Bologna, carlo ancelotti, champions league group, christian abbiati, David Beckham, disarray, England, england captain, Filippo, filippo inzaghi, flamini, genoa, group stages, Italy, juventus, loose ball, Marco Di Vaio, Marek Jankulovski, Mathieu Flamini, Milan, milan italy, new lease, Palermo, pato, Pippo, place finisher, point gap, San, san siro, Serie A, team mate, winning waysRelated posts
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