AC Milan general spiel 2.0

[San Paolo]

looks like i missed a real hum dingger of a game!

[San Paolo]

Edin Dzeko will not join Milan as they cannot afford to pay Wolfsburg the €40 million price.

Tuttomercatoweb.com claims Milan have given up on the Bosnian striker because he costs too much. Dzeko has been tracked by the club since the summer, with reports in January suggesting they were still keen.

But that enthusiasm was lost when directors heard that Wolfsburg had increased Dzeko's evaluation.

Also, Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti has reportedly asked for the striker. And, rumours close to the player have already said his future will be decided by April, not in the summer as expected.

[juventino_italiano]

Borriello aims for World Cup Tuesday 9 February, 2010

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Milan striker Marco Borriello insists he is pumped up after recent praise from Italy boss Marcello Lippi ahead of this summer's World Cup.

Lippi gave Borriello's chances of being in South Africa a massive boost when he announced that there would be no space for the oriundi in his squad.

That effectively rules out Juventus striker Amauri, meaning there is one extra space in the Azzurri's squad for an out and out centre-forward.

“Lippi's statement is an extra motive to believe in ourselves, not just for me, but also the others who are in competition for the place. It's a wonderful boost.â€

[San Paolo]

start scoring again then Marco!

[RomaShield27]

lol, Julio Baptista has been called up for Brazils friendly against Ireland but Ronaldinho hasn't. Goes to show how much Dunga actually watches Serie A.

[San Paolo]

i hope this does not put Dinho into "ah fuck it why bother trying" mode.

[San Paolo]

A.C. Milan communicate that the footballers Ignazio Abate and Luca Antonini have extended their respective contracts with the club until 30 June 2014.

[Messinese Interista]

i think its more of a ploy to get ronnie to play even better.

[RomaShield27]

Milan agree €60m sponsorship deal
Football Italia – Friday 12 February, 2010

Milan have formally announced a €60m shirt sponsorship deal with Fly Emirates, the Dubai airline company. From July this year, Milan will wear the Fly Emirates logo on their shirts, just like Arsenal, Paris St. Germain, Olympiacos and Hamburg. Speaking about the five-year arrangement, Milan Vice-President Adriano Galliani reassured fans that the shirt sponsorship deal wasn't a precursor to an eventual takeover of the club.

“It's a sponsorship. The acquisitions of shares were never spoken about, nor were the naming rights of the stadium. Also because Emirates are interested in a new stadium to which they can give their name while San Siro, for the football fans, will always remain San Siro.â€

[RomaShield27]

The great Paddy Agnew speaks, good read:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/spo ... 49481.html?

[Messinese Interista]

Milan agree €60m sponsorship deal
Football Italia – Friday 12 February, 2010

Milan have formally announced a €60m shirt sponsorship deal with Fly Emirates, the Dubai airline company. From July this year, Milan will wear the Fly Emirates logo on their shirts, just like Arsenal, Paris St. Germain, Olympiacos and Hamburg. Speaking about the five-year arrangement, Milan Vice-President Adriano Galliani reassured fans that the shirt sponsorship deal wasn't a precursor to an eventual takeover of the club.

“It's a sponsorship. The acquisitions of shares were never spoken about, nor were the naming rights of the stadium. Also because Emirates are interested in a new stadium to which they can give their name while San Siro, for the football fans, will always remain San Siro.”

Galliani also confirmed that Milan would be participating in this summer's Emirates Cup, which will be hosted by Arsenal between July 31 and August 1.

“Arsenal will be the opponents and two other clubs who are yet to be established. Our success attracts major international sponsors and I am sure that we will also fly with Emirates over the next few years,” he concluded.

Thats great news.

[p_maldini_3]

AC Milan's Clarence Seedorf: Manchester United Are In Transition And Champions League Outsiders
Dutchman tips Chelsea and Barcelona ahead of English champions...
By Michael Landon
Feb 14, 2010 4:48:00 PM
Clarence Seedorf - Milan-Cagliari - Serie A (Getty Images)
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Clarence Seedorf - Milan-Cagliari - Serie A (Getty Images)
AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf believes that Manchester United are not one of the clubs that can go on and win the Champions League this year.

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Tuesday's mega-clash at San Siro, Seedorf also tipped Chelsea and Barcelona ahead of the English champions for European glory this season.

He said: "I think that Manchester [United] is also an outsider this year because I think that Chelsea and Barcelona are the two teams that are actually the favourites.

"I'm saying this because Manchester went through a transition period, losing their main player [Cristiano] Ronaldo. They are doing well but it is a different team from last year."

Seedorf also gave his opinion on coach Leonardo, who finally seems to be getting the best out of the Rossoneri after a shaky start in charge saw him draw criticism from the Italian media.

He said: "He [Leonardo] has been a player for 15 years. A long career, so we are all used to that; people catching you.

"So I don't think that is a big issue. There is pressure, but I think that Leonardo needs to be complemented for what he has done until now."

Touching on the John Terry captaincy saga and the decision to award the England armband to Rio Ferdinand, Seedorf says that the decision did not surprise him.

However, he added that Wayne Rooney could also have been an option for manager Fabio Capello.

"I'm not suprised, but I would have thought of some other players too [for the captaincy]. I was thinking about [Wayne] Rooney. Especially Rooney actually. And I was thinking about [Rio] Ferdinand.

"Those two players have what they show on the pitch, at least the personality and the technical importance for the team to be a captain."

[San Paolo]

Nemanja Vidic and Anderson have been ruled out of Manchester United's UEFA Champions League showdown with AC Milan.

The pair were missing from the squad that flew out to Italy on Monday morning for the clash at the San Siro on Tuesday.

Vidic, who has yet to play in 2010 after developing a nerve problem in his leg, has been forced out as he is still a way off returning to fitness.

It means United boss Sir Alex Ferguson must decide between Jonny Evans or Wes Brown to partner Rio Ferdinand at the heart of the defence.

It is not known if Anderson has not travelled because of injury as the Brazilian has found himself out-of-favour in recent weeks.
==============================================================
Get in no vidic

[RomaShield27]

A boost for Milan that Vidic won't be playing, but they still have good cover. What's Milan's line-up likely to be? Is Thiago Silva fit? Who will be in goal, Dida? And who will be upfront, Hunterlaar or Borriello or Pato? Hopefully Beckham will be on the bench.

[RomaShield27]

AC Milan not scared of in-form Wayne Rooney - Flamini

Venue: San Siro Date: Tuesday 16 February Kick-off: 1945 GMT Coverage: BBC Sport website, Final Score, BBC Radio 5 live and live on Sky Sports 2 – By David Ornstein – BBC

AC Milan star Mathieu Flamini says his side will not make special plans for Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney in Tuesday's Champions League tie. Rooney has been in inspired form this season but former Arsenal midfielder Flamini said Milan can cope with him.

"Fear is not the word. Of course we have to be careful because we know he is a great player who can score at any time," Flamini told BBC Sport. "There are no special plans for Rooney, just to concentrate and be strong."

Rooney has scored 24 goals for club and country this season, turning in a series of superb performances along the way as United battle to hold on to their Premier League crown and reach a third consecutive Champions League final. However, Flamini, who played against Rooney several times during his time in England's top flight with the Gunners, said Milan coach Leonardo would not make the mistake of underestimating United's other attacking talents.

"We have to focus on him but also on the rest of the team because Manchester United attack with many players," he added. But United manager Sir Alex Ferguson could not speak highly enough of Rooney's contribution this season and believes the England striker is in the best form of his already impressive career.

"We build up heroes very quickly," stated Ferguson. "We are peculiar because the players, like David Beckham, who come through the ranks are always viewed as better than those you buy. But Rooney is also regarded as that kind of player. Although he came from Everton, the fans will always look at him as one of the players who has grown up with us. He has been fantastic this season and, without doubt, his form this season has brought him to the high point of his career. World class is a misused term but with Rooney you have to say he is getting to the point where he is now one of the best players in the world."

Milan are currently third in Serie A after an indifferent recent spell of form, although they do come into the game off the back of a 3-2 win over Udinese. Flamini said the huge amount of experience in Milan's squad - with the likes of Beckham, Clarence Seedorf and Alessandro Nesta all well into their 30s - meant that the stature of the game would not be an issue for his side.

"I prefer to say that we have a lot of experience in the team rather than we are too old," commented Flamini. "The Champions League is completely different: Milan have won it so many times and it's a special tournament for us. "When you're young and want to become a football player, you dream of playing in these types of games. "We have a lot of experience and players who know how to deal with this kind of game."

For all the attacking talents set to be on show at the San Siro on Tuesday and the return leg at Old Trafford on 10 March, Flamini expects the tie to be a tight affair.

"We are two very ambitious teams who want to go through," he added. "I think the most important thing is to be very strong defensively and not concede any goals. We know we can score and one goal, I'm sure, will do it. "You have to win the battle in the middle, especially in big games."

[San Paolo]

well good old english media have the milan lineup as follows

---------------------Dida------------------
----Abate-----Nesta---Thiago----Bonera
---Beckham---Pirlo----Ambro---Pato---
-------------Hunter---Dinho--------------

i cant see us playing Pato as a wide midfielder or Bonera at LB for that matter.

[RomaShield27]

Bonera and Pato down the left, lol Nani would have a field day. Beckham is not going to start is he?

[San Paolo]

we have Vidic out so that means Johnny Evans or Wes Brown in i would guess, this can only be good news?, also with Evra pushing foward often this should leave us lots of room out wide for Pato to exploit, likewise for Dinho we need to win the ball in the middle and then get it out wide as fast as we can, none of this sideways and backwards passing allowing Man United to get back into position we need to hit them hard and fast.

[maro]

Evra will destroy Pato.

[San Paolo]

reasons?