Milan Column

[Warro Bantan]

Thanks Jeff...Kaka never ceases to impress.

[Jeff]

Yet another one: Coverage on Milan increasing!
***


Qualifying for the UEFA Champions League knockout stage is routine for an AC Milan side which has reached the final three times in the past five years. The 1-0 victory against Celtic FC which gave the Rossoneri top spot in Group D, however, will not be forgotten in a hurry by Rossoneri team-mates Kaká and Filippo Inzaghi.

Kaká prize
What made the match so special for them? Perhaps because Kaká was voted Man of the Match by uefa.com users and Inzaghi scored the winner. Wrong answer – that too is routine. For Kaká it was the first game since receiving the Ballon d'Or which he proudly showed to the Milan tifosi prior to kick-off. For Inzaghi that 70th-minute winner took him beyond Gerd Müller as the all-time record scorer in UEFA club competition with 63 goals.

'Great honour'
uefa.com met Kaká at Milan's Milanello training ground the day after he was awarded the Ballon d'Or which he was keeping close to his side as he entered the room. "It's a great honour to have written my name in the history of football like this," he told us. "It's a very important award in Europe, I would say the most important individual award for a footballer. Having my name included on the list of winners is really a huge honour."

Milan greats
The Brazilian international is the sixth Milan player to win the award after Gianni Rivera, Ruud Gullit, Marco Van Basten (three times), George Weah and Andriy Shevchenko. The ten goals Kaká scored to lead Milan to the UEFA Champions League title was the key for his individual success. "To win awards like the Ballon d'Or and the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year, you have to do well in the Champions League especially in a year when there is no World Cup or European Championship. The Champions League was definitely the most important trophy last year and we won it."

Huge responsibility
Kaká will become a father for the first time next year and recently revealed plans to study theology to become an evangelical pastor. His hunger for further success on the pitch, though, is undiminished. "Getting to this level means I have the necessary quality so if I work hard I can stay at this level. It is a huge responsibility but I like it because it's a challenge. Next year I want to win all the things I won this year [again]. This is my new challenge."

'Do it again'
As for the future, Kaká is happy for more of the same. "I have always said I want to become a symbol of this club, one of the leaders and the captain, respecting the hierarchy in the team. Paolo Maldini is a great example for me. But not just him. There are several players here who have won everything but still have the same motivation to keep on winning. At 25 I have already won almost everything in my career. Now I want to do it again." Starting with the FIFA World Club Cup which Milan will contest later this month in Japan. "This is the last major trophy I'm missing and it's the same for several of my team-mates including the Italian internationals who won the World Cup last year."

Inzaghi record
Among those is Inzaghi who discussed his new record with uefa.com after the game against Celtic. Like Kaká, there is plenty more the 34-year-old hopes to achieve. "It's a great feeling especially because I did it at San Siro, in front of my own supporters. Now I'll try and keep going and keep scoring, particularly because a lot of the players chasing me in the goalscorers' charts are younger than me and will have more opportunities to catch me up."

First goal
Some players don't remember their past goals or games, not Inzaghi. You don't want to get your numbers wrong when interviewing him. He remembers all his European goals, including the first on from 28 September 1995 when his Parma FC side defeated Albania's KS Teuta 2-0. "I remember that goal clearly," he recalled. "It was an important one because it was my first game in Europe and I scored in the last minute. I don't think you ever forget your first European goal."

Athens triumph
"Obviously my favourite goals were the two I scored in Athens," he added. "There's no question about that. I'd like to thank all the clubs I have played for and my team-mates." Kaká is the man to thank for the second goal in last season's UEFA Champions League final. His perfect pass split the Liverpool FC defence and put Inzaghi through. The striker's instinct, for which he still thanks mother nature, did the rest, Inzaghi's goal sealing Milan's seventh European Cup title. With Kaká and Inzaghi in this kind of form, there are likely to be many more golden weeks to celebrate.

***

http://www.uefa.com/magazine/news/ki...id=633110.html

[Jeff]

Time will tell if this is true insight or just a bunch of bulsit:

World is not enough for AncelottiDominic Raynor
Archive

Beleaguered AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti earned some rare praise this week as the Rossoneri cruised to victory in FIFA's Club World Cup final, but the win may not be enough to save his job.



GiuseppeCacace/GettyImages
Carlo Ancelotti lifts the FIFA Club World Cup

The Italian club took time out from their dire showing in Serie A to thrash Boca Juniors 4-2 in Yokohama, Japan, as Kaka justified his FIFA World Player of the Year crown with a scintillating performance that included two assists and a goal for himself.

However, Milan's success in FIFA supremo Sepp Blatter's pet project failed to paper over the cracks of a disappointing domestic campaign and with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho apparently waiting in the wings Ancelotti's days appear to be numbered.

Milan have failed to win a single game at the San Siro this season and languish in 11th place, 22 points behind league leaders and city rivals Internazionale. Ancelotti won the Champions League with Milan last season and only his team's progress to the knock-out phase of this year's competition has prevented his demise.

To make matters worse, Mourinho has moved out of the shadows and into the spotlight and is ready to pounce if Milan opt for a change of coach, or, as Ancelotti alleges, are talked into doing so by the silver-tongued Portuguese.

The Milan manager suggests that it was Mourinho who contacted the Rossoneri as part of his search for a new high-profile club to coach and not the other way around. However, Mourinho denies that is the case and insists he has never contacted the club 'directly or indirectly' but hinted that Milan may well have contacted him.

The former Porto boss was a leading contender for the England job and is accused of stringing the FA along in order to raise his media profile and force an approach from some of Europe's biggest clubs. Whether that is the case or not Mourinho's association with England certainly saw him linked with Juventus, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter and AC Milan; although links to most of those clubs have been denied, or simply abated, the Milan deal persists.

The Italian press persevere with the story and Rossoneri president Silvio Berlusconi has reportedly made a £10million offer to Mourinho, who won the Champions League with Porto and two Premier League titles with Chelsea, to succeed Ancelotti.

Speaking at press conference in Yokohama Ancelotti acknowledged that he was well aware of all the newspaper talk.

'I read an article in the Italian papers about Mourinho,' he said. 'Milan were supposed to have offered him my job. They may have done but I haven't been informed by the club that there has been a formal offer.'

But the 48-year-old Italian, who has led the Rossoneri for six years, added: 'If Mourinho does want the job it just gives me extra motivation.'

If Mourinho takes a job before next summer he will forfeit 40 per cent of his £20million settlement with Chelsea and that may give a newly motivated Ancelotti a deadline to save his job.

***
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns...t&lid=tab1pos2

[Blacktop]

NELSON DIDA
di Redazione - giovedì 27 dicembre 2007, 07:00

Hanno fatto tutto i media brasiliani. Prima hanno segnalato la presenza di Ronaldo alla festa con Adriano nelle stesse ore in cui il Milan beveva l’amaro calice del derby. Poi hanno lanciato nel circuito la notizia, attribuita ai dirigenti del Flamengo, dell’autorizzazione (firmata Milan) ad allacciare trattative con Ronaldo per il trasferimento in prestito, da gennaio, grazie al contributo dello sponsor Nike, che tiene sotto contratto anche il club di Rio de Janeiro. Così, nel volgere di qualche ora, l’ipotesi è diventata la notizia di fine anno: e cioè l’incontro imminente tra Ronaldo, il suo agente Fabiano Farah e il vice-presidente del Flamengo Kleber Leite sabato ad Angra dos Reis, località balneare tra le più famose. Decisivo, per rendere credibile il fanta-trasferimento, un particolare sullo stipendio: è cioè la disponibilità da parte di Ronaldo a tagliarsi l’appannaggio dagli attuali 6 milioni di euro a circa la metà. La reazione, immediata, del Milan è stata la seguente, firmata da Ariedo Braida: «A gennaio non sono previste cessioni». Adriano Galliani, vice-presidente esecutivo, al telefono, è stato ancora più perentorio: «Trattasi di bufala. Fino al 30 giugno Ronaldo resta con noi».

IL COLLOQUIO
A scavare dietro la notizia brasiliana si ottengono però altri particolari del negoziato. «C’è stato un colloquio mesi fa tra Ronaldo e il presidente del Flamengo» lo spezzone fornito da Leonardo, assistente di Galliani e decisiva pedina per convincere Ronaldo un anno fa ad accettare le proposte dei rossoneri. Il colloquio dunque c’è stato, ma mesi fa. Se ne potrà riparlare a giugno quando il rapporto tra Ronie e il Milan si sarà inevitabilmente esaurito. Ronaldo ha chiesto un rinnovo preventivo al Milan, l’infortunio del 31 luglio ha frenato ogni iniziativa. Da gennaio, essendo a scadenza di contratto, può concludere pre-accordi con qualsiasi club.

LA ROTTURA
Il piano del Milan è definito in ogni suo aspetto. Ronaldo è atteso il 2 gennaio a Milano, viene dato in partenza per Dubai, sede della preparazione 2008, e accompagnato, senza entusiasmo né credito, verso l’ennesimo tentativo di recupero. Tra Yokohama e il derby si è consumato uno strappo clamoroso. Ronaldo ha sempre pensato - e la visita presso lo specialista di fiducia, dottor Runco, lo ha confermato - di essere vittima di un altro errore di diagnosi da parte dello staff sanitario rossonero. Il Milan, qui inteso come il presidente Berlusconi e il suo vice Galliani, hanno invece dato credito alla tesi di Meersseman: e cioè considerano Ronaldo alle prese con problemi psicologici, la paura di farsi male lo blocca. «Ho sempre un sogno nel cassetto: vedere insieme il trio Kakà-Pato-Ronaldo» la frase di Berlusconi ribadita più volte. Faranno l’ultimo tentativo da gennaio fino a giugno: se Ronaldo giocherà in modo stabile potrà contare su un rinnovo parziale di fiducia. Altrimenti a giugno chiusura del rapporto e amici come prima. Anche da Milanello, sul conto di Ronaldo, arrivano frasi e giudizi agrodolci. «Se Ronie vuole riprendersi deve lavorare sodo» suggerisce Gattuso. «Gli consiglio di andare a letto presto la sera» commenta esplicito Kakà. Non sono contenti del professionista, insomma.

DROGBA LA PISTA
Ronaldo via, il futuro del Milan ha un solo cognome: Drogba. Piace a tutti, società, allenatore, squadra. Sarà complicato il negoziato: l’interessato potrà agevolarlo, chiudendo col Chelsea per via del licenziamento di Mourinho.

***

From Il Giornale. Yes, that's the actual title of the article.

[Jeff]

Everythinga bout Ronaldo but title is about Dida???

[Blacktop]

The proper title of the article appeared a couple hours later, during which Giornale's semiannual Dida-bashing column was posted.

[Jeff]

goal.com; yet another section on Dida...

Milan Mid-Season Review: Tricky Times

To say it's been an up and down first half of the season for AC Milan is a bit of an understatement. Gil Gillespie charts the highs and lows of a yo-yo few months for the Rossineri.



zoom - galleria Terrible home form. Ronaldo's persistent injuries. The thrilling World Club Cup triumph in Tokyo. Smashing five past Sampdoria and Lazio away from home.

Losing to Empoli in the San Siro. Kaka picking up the golden ball award. Maldini announcing the date of his retirement. And some of the worst goalkeeping blunders ever seen on a football pitch. Milan's season so far is probably best described as being a bit schizophrenic.

When they were drawn against Arsenal in the Champions League the first comment most English pundits made was that Milan are an ageing team with a chronic lack of pace and are not the same side that lifted the trophy last season.

Actually, they are exactly the same side that won the competition in May. And exactly the same team that slowly and ruthlessly demolished a pumped-up Boca Juniors to become the first ever European team to win the World Club Cup.

True, they can be listless, pedestrian and predictable at times. But Carlo Ancelotti's side are also capable of beating any team in the world when it comes to the cut-throat 90-minute format of the cup. Arsenal, you have been warned.

Maybe Milan's stuttering form in Serie A is down to the famously ageing squad not having the stamina for the long haul of a whole season. That said, the average age of the current starting eleven is only 31.

Maybe its difficult too to lift your game for a run-of-the-mill clash in your domestic league when you've just been jetting around the globe picking up yet another piece of silverware for European football's most over-stuffed trophy cabinet.

Out of form players haven't helped the red-and-black cause either. Unbelievably, the Champions League's leading goal scorer of all time, Pippo Inzaghi, hasn't found the back of the net in Serie A since February.

Gilardino has struggled to 5 in 14 games. In midfield, Rino Gattuso hasn't had a great season by his exacting standards, nor have Seedorf or Oddo. Nesta, Maldini and Kaladze have done well by and large, but in-between the posts, disaster has loomed large.

Giant Brazilian clown Dida has cemented his reputation as the most accident prone goalkeeper in the world. He is the worst this writer has ever seen. Why? A pair of inflexibly hard hands mean his shot-stopping is abysmal, he is always pushing the ball back into the path of the strikers.

The movement of his feet on his line is slow and stumbling. He is now so unsure of his catching ability that he wont come for any crosses. And he falls with all the urgency of a tree-trunk when getting down to low shots.

It was Dida's two handling errors that cost Milan the game against Celtic at Parkhead. He cost them two points at lowly Siena. And, most recently, he effectively handed rivals Inter the title by going for a little walk in the wrong direction as Cambiasso shot on goal.

In the last three or four seasons, Dida must have cost Milan more than 20 matches in all competitions. And now, at last, Silvio Berlusconi has apparently had enough and looks set to replace him in the January transfer window if possible. Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa has been mentioned. The much-talked about deal for Sebastian Frey might have to wait until the summer.

There is nothing more unsettling for players than a goalkeeper they know they cant rely on. Dida's complete lack of confidence in his own ability must have had an effect on the whole side at times. If Ancelotti can begin 2008 with a more reassuring presence in goal, then he can begin to turn around the wild inconsistencies that have plagued Milan's season to date.

How will Milan do in the second half of the season? Probably a whole lot better. Lets not forget that Brazilian wonderkid, Pato ‘The Duck’ will be available from January and looks capable of really setting his new team on fire. Lo Scudetto is gone, of course, but don’t rule out another Champions League win.

[ACMILAN1983]

To be honest I found that article ridiculous, mostly because of the way the writer spoke of Dida (an overreaction to say the least)

[Jeff]

I agree; the reaction on Dida is totally, totally awful. Gilardino, if not other players, should also be blamed for their inconsistency at home.

[Capo Ultra]

Here is an interesting article about our financial situation. It's a bit old (from 30. April 2007), but still relevant.

Il Milan ringrazia Shevchenko per l'utile 2006

La società rossonera deve anche alla sua appartenenza alla galassia Fininvest (da cui è posseduto al 99,93%) se riesce a ottenere lauti contratti di diritti tv: una strapotenza contro cui nessuna società di serie A può competere, eccezion fatta per Inter e Juventus.

Il Milan deve ringraziare Andrij Shevchenko (nella foto) e il patron russo del Chelsea, Roman Abramovich, se ha chiuso l’esercizio al 31 dicembre 2006 con un utile di 2,48 milioni di euro, contro un passivo di 4,58 milioni registrato nel 2005. Ma deve anche alla sua appartenenza alla galassia Fininvest (da cui è posseduto al 99,93%) se riesce a ottenere lauti contratti di diritti tv: una strapotenza contro cui nessuna società di serie A può competere (eccezion fatta per Inter e Juventus) e che riesce a far superare al club rossonero qualsiasi problema economico-finanziario.

Tra questi ultimi, l’enorme squilibrio debiti-crediti per oltre 220 milioni di euro, in crescita del 40% rispetto al bilancio alla fine del 2005. Ad ogni modo, se il Milan avesse chiuso in perdita anche l’ultimo esercizio non costituirebbe un problema per le casse del gruppo berlusconiano: il Milan, come evidenziato dal documento contabile, fa parte del consolidato fiscale Fininvest: per questo motivo la società chiude dal 2005 gli esercizi al 31 dicembre, in modo da collimare con quelli della controllante. Quest’ultima utilizzerà l’eventuale perdita fiscale della società rossonera ottenendo un beneficio tributario pari a circa il 33% rappresentato dall’Ires.

Ma torniamo all’attaccante ucraino, che fu al centro la scorsa estate di futili polemiche riguardo alle motivazioni della sua cessione. Proprio la vendita al Chelsea ha fatto conseguire alle casse rossonere una plusvalenza di 42,03 milioni. Stando al prospetto delle cessioni pubblicato nella nota integrativa milanista, il suo valore contabile, al netto degli ammortamenti, era di 1,85 milioni, mentre il prezzo pagato dalla società londinese del magnate petrolifero Abramovich è stato di 43,88 milioni. Ma la cessione di un calciatore, seppure di livello internazionale, è un fatto straordinario che non rientra nell’ordinaria gestione: inoltre, sono ben poche le società in Europa ad avere la disponibilità economica del Chelsea.

Senza la plusvalenza su Shevchenko, il bilancio si sarebbe concluso con un risultato prima delle imposte negativo per 18,53 milioni. La differenza positiva rispetto al valore di libro del calciatore ucraino è reale. Invece, quella pari a 183,7 milioni evidenziata nel bilancio 2005, riguardante il conferimento alla sua controllata al 100% Milan Entertainment dei marchi rossoneri, ricalca da vicino lo schema del “contratto con se stesso” visto in occasione dell’operazione similare compiuta dall’Inter (si legga http://qn.quotidiano.net/conti_del_p...do_rosso.shtml) che per legge è nullo. Il ricavato di questa operazione è servito a ripianare gli oltre 181 milioni residui provenienti dall’eliminazione della legge 27 del 2003 detta “spalmadebiti”, rinvenienti nell’esercizio 2005.
Il Milan ha comunicato anche un utile consolidato di gruppo pari a 11,8 milioni. Tuttavia, questa cifra è solo accademica poiché, come si è stato scritto a pagina 38 del bilancio dal vicepresidente vicario e amministratore delegato, Adriano Galliani, la società "è esonerata dal redigere un proprio bilancio consolidato ai sensi dell’art. 27, 3° comma, D.Lgs. 127/91". E a proposito di amministratori, il cda del Milan è stato confermato in blocco il 27 aprile scorso nell’assemblea di approvazione del bilancio 2006: restano quindi in carica tra i big rossoneri, oltre a Galliani, il presidente Silvio Berlusconi, i vice presidenti Paolo Berlusconi e Gianni Nardi, i consiglieri Leandro Cantamessa, Francesco Formenton Mondadori e Paolo Ligresti. Stando al rendiconto 2006 e a quello precedente, l’ammontare complessivo dei compensi per i 12 consiglieri è aumentato da 1,71 a 2,05 milioni, pari a un incremento del 19,70%. Anche se non è stata comunicata la cifra singola per ciascun componente, si può tranquillamente affermare che è molto redditizio essere consigliere di amministrazione rossonero.

IL “VIZIETTO” SALVACONTO

Restando sempre in tema di plusvalenze calciatori, si nota nel conto economico che esse ammontano a 44,8 milioni e sono state inserite tra i ricavi. Anche il Milan partecipa al “vizietto” evidenziato già con Inter, Catania, Parma e Napoli. Il club berlusconiano fa presente nella nota integrativa che "le voci di conto economico sono state riclassificate in ossequio a quanto disposto dal Comunicato Ufficiale della Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio n. 58, pubblicato in data 5 settembre 2006". In quest’ultimo, scivolato nel silenzio generale, il commissario straordinario Guido Rossi ha approvato, quattordici giorni prima delle sue dimissioni, la revisione dei criteri della stesura dei bilanci: in essa sono state inserite le plusvalenze e le minusvalenze da calciatori nel conto economico. Parafrasando una celebre espressione del grande uomo politico inglese William Gladstone, la plusvalenza è stata "eretta a sistema di governo".

Peccato che ciò confligga con quanto stabilito dal Codice Civile: la vendita di un bene, com’è appunto la cessione di un calciatore (che è classificato sia dal Codice che dalla disposizione Figc tra le immobilizzazioni), deve essere iscritta tra le componenti straordinarie. Anche i 4,4 milioni di minusvalenze, al contrario del dettato legislativo, sono state inserite tra i costi ordinari. Com’è stato per le altre società le differenze risultano notevoli. Inserendo plusvalenze e minusvalenze la differenza tra il valore e i costi della produzione risulta positiva per 31,5 milioni. Invece escludendole secondo la stesura del Codice, il risultato risulta negativo per 8,9 milioni: quindi, la gestione ordinaria è in perdita.

GRAZIE MEDIASET

Ricalcolando il fatturato secondo il Codice, esso è pari a 248,3 milioni (+7,53% rispetto al 2005). In esso si nota innanzitutto il calo dei ricavi da gare in casa (- 4,83%, e da abbonamenti (- 8,28%) calati di oltre 1,11 milioni. In discesa del 3,36% le entrate da sponsorizzazioni ammontate a 29,7 milioni: tra le principali si segnalano i 5 milioni di BetandWin, i 12,66 milioni versati da Adidas "per l’acquisto del diritto ad apporre il proprio marchio sulle divise da gioco ufficiali"sino al 30 giugno 2010 e i 4,5 milioni del gold sponsor Pagine Gialle. Nella voce “sponsorizzazioni” sono anche inclusi circa 3 milioni versati da sponsor istituzionali (tra essi il colosso bancario IntesaSanpaolo), partner commerciali e fornitori tecnici e ufficiali: in quest’ultima categoria, secondo quanto illustrato sul sito internet del Milan (http://www.acmilan.com/InfoPage.aspx?id=13430), c’è anche “La Gazzetta dello Sport”. Il primo quotidiano sportivo italiano è anche fornitore ufficiale dell’Inter (si veda il sito http://www.inter.it/aas/sponsor/home?L=it).

In caduta libera (-75%) è la voce “proventi commerciali e royalties” ammontata ad appena 4,04 milioni, che si riferisce all’attività di merchandising e licencing, in particolare con Adidas. Questa raffica di segni negativi è stata compensata dalle voci relative ai diritti tv, ammontati a 127,99 milioni (+30,33%), a quelli della partecipazione alla Champions League (27,78 milioni, +12,98%) e dai ricavi vari (12 milioni, +38,07%) riguardanti per 8,96 milioni "proventi derivanti dai riaddebiti operati nei confronti di Milan Entertainment".

I proventi televisivi per il campionato e del Trofeo Berlusconi si riferiscono per 90,82 milioni ai contratti stipulati con Sky per la sola cessione dei diritti: a questa cifra bisogna aggiungere 2,1 milioni del premio riconosciuto dall’emittente satellitare al Milan per il secondo posto ottenuto in campionato, prima del processo sportivo che l’ha penalizzata di 30 punti portandola al quarto posto. Il riconoscimento è stato oggetto di trattative con Inter e Roma che hanno avanzato la posizione in classifica.

Ma non è finita qui: ci sono 33,76 milioni provenienti da gruppo Mediaset, di cui 27 milioni derivanti dal diritto di opzione per la stagione 2009/10 previsto nel contratto stipulato nel febbraio 2006. Si tratta di un primo congruo anticipo da parte di una delle principali società del gruppo Fininvest, poiché nella stessa data è stato firmato un contratto per le stagioni 2007/08 e 2008/09 "per la cessione dei diritti televisivi in chiaro e/o a pagamento e/o accesso condizionato in qualsiasi forma o qualsiasi modalità"per "un complessivo ammontare pari a euro 198 milioni"che sarà contabilizzato negli esercizi di competenza. Davvero un bel “tesoretto”, che le maggior parte delle squadre del campionato di A non possono usufruire: non a caso i risconti passivi (anticipo di ricavi futuri), riguardanti principalmente la fatturazione anticipata dei diritti tv per le partite a San Siro per la stagione 2006/07 e di alcuni contratti commerciali, si è dimezzato da 66,66 a 32,84 milioni.

Con il fiume di danari freschi proveniente da Mediaset c’è decisamente meno bisogno di ottenere somme in acconto. Piccola osservazione: se il Milan fa parte di un gruppo dov’è presente la principale società televisiva privata, ossia Mediaset, che bisogno ha di stipulare contratti con diritti di opzione con essa? E’ improbabile che l’amministratore delegato Galliani stipuli una simile scrittura con un concorrente.

LIEVITAZIONE DEI COSTI

Nel 2006 spese del Milan sono lievitate rispetto al 2005 dell’1,24% a 257,2 milioni. Ciò nonostante il calo del monte salari e stipendi dell’8,35%, passato da 141,19 a 129,41 milioni. I compensi contrattuali ai calciatori (la cui rosa è aumentata da 47 a 53) sono diminuiti da 117,26 a 109,29 milioni: è stata tagliata anche la quota variabile legata ai risultati sportivi da 8,55 a 7,24 milioni. Quest’ultima "si riferisce principalmente ai premi relativi ai passaggi – si legge nella nota integrativa – di turno Champions League e al raggiungimento del secondo posto nel campionato 2005/2006, in quanto la società ha voluto premiare l’effettivo risultato ottenuto sul campo". Sono stati inoltre drasticamente tagliati gli emolumenti agli altri dipendenti da 9,34 a 5,32 milioni. Curiosamente sono invece aumentate le retribuzioni per gli allenatori, che assieme agli altri tecnici sono 38 (in precedenza 32), da 5,22 a 5,76 milioni.
L’incremento complessivo dei costi è stato causato dal +30,82% (47,08 milioni) e dal +28,59% (14,07 milioni) rispettivamente per i “servizi” e per gli “altri oneri diversi di gestione”. Nella prima voce, si evidenzia l’esplosione dei costi specifici tecnici da 4,95 a 9,02 milioni: essi "sono composti da consulenze tecnico-sportive prestate in fase di acquisizione dei calciatori e da costi per l’osservazione dei calciatori". Oltre a ciò "l’importo comprende inoltre i costi connessi a transazioni di contratti derivanti dalla campagna trasferimenti".

Insomma, i procuratori e gli osservatori sono ben retribuiti dal Milan. Hanno fatto boom, con un incremento di 9,9 milioni, anche i “servizi vari da società controllate” che hanno raggiunto i 13,80 milioni: essi si riferiscono al "contratto di servizi stipulato tra l’Ac Milan e la Milan Entertainment in forza della quale la stessa rende alla controllante Ac Milan i servizi commerciali, marketing e vendite, i servizi di gestione e amministrazione del personale, i servizi gestione stadio, i servizi amministrativi e quelli logistici".

La società rossonera spiega che "l’incremento dei costi contabilizzato nell’anno 2006, è dovuto al fatto che si riferisce a dodici mesi di attività operativa, rapportati ai soli tre mesi dell’esercizio 2005". Ciò non toglie il fatto che, se il Milan ha ottenuto una significativa plusvalenza con la cessione dei marchi alla Milan Entertainment, i costi annuali per i servizi da essa resi dovrebbero mantenersi su livelli abbastanza sostenuti e occupare una parte di rilievo sul totale. La stessa società controllata ha pesato per 8,96 milioni, pari al 63,66% del totale di oltre 14 milioni, nella voce “altri oneri diversi di gestione” per "oneri derivanti da riaddebiti per competenze".
Di minimo rilievo l’incremento (+2,63%) delle spese per gli ammortamenti, pari a 25,77 milioni, quasi interamente composte da quelle per i diritti alle prestazioni dei calciatori.

QUANTI DEBITI!

Se il Milan non avesse alle spalle la solida potenza del gruppo Fininvest, i suoi oltre 289,70 milioni di debiti costituirebbero un macigno come quello di Sisifo. Per giunta, l’importo è in crescita del 19,06% rispetto al 2005: inoltre, gli oltre 248 milioni di ricavi non riescono a coprire tutta l’esposizione. Spicca su tutti la cifra dovuta alle banche pari a 95,7 milioni (+7,5%). Seguono i 36,54 milioni verso gli altri finanziatori (+8,41%): si riferiscono "a debiti verso società di factoring per anticipazioni di crediti futuri in riferimento a contratti di natura commerciale". Il Milan possiede una forte esposizione di circa 43 milioni con le controllate, di cui ben 38,32 milioni verso la solita Milan Entertainment: quest’ultimo deriva "dall’attività di tesoreria svolta da Ac Milan formalizzata nel maggio 2006 attraverso un contratto di conto corrente finanziario di corrispondenza intercompany". La società rossonera ha anche un debito di 4,42 milioni con Fininvest, in crescita dai 3,64 milioni dell’anno precedente: la controllante deve anche ricevere altri 11 milioni per finanziamenti a titolo oneroso. Non mancano anche le somme arretrate dovute al fisco, pari a 19,82 milioni, in aumento del 15,78%. Sono costituiti per 13,45 milioni da debiti per Irpef: nella nota integrativa la società spiega che "il debito nei confronti dell’Erario per le ritenute Irpef maturate su stipendi è stato regolarmente saldato alle scadenze previste".

Il Milan possedeva al 31 dicembre scorso debiti per 33,92 milioni (29,55 nel 2005) con società di calcio. La cifra si compone di 15,63 milioni relativi al "saldo della campagna trasferimenti 2006/2007 al 31 dicembre 2006 ed il residuo"con la Lega Calcio. Gli altri 14,68 milioni si riferiscono al debito verso al Real Betis per l’acquisto di Ricardo Oliveira e per quello con il Rennes per l’acquisizione di Yohann Gurcouff.

E a proposito di calciatori, nel bilancio è evidenziato un ulteriore consistente “fardello” di 22,93 milioni, in crescita dai precedenti 21,69, di debiti verso fornitori. Il Milan non specifica quali siano: in questa cifra potrebbero essere compresi anche eventuali somme dovute dai procuratori sportivi.

Infine, la società aveva anche ulteriori debiti per 13,78 milioni, per la quasi totalità verso tesserati. Nella nota integrativa si sottolinea che "il debito verso tesserati da riferimento a mensilità regolarmente pagate nei mesi di gennaio e febbraio 2007 e a risoluzioni contrattuali aventi scadenze rispettate regolarmente secondo quanto stabilito da ogni contratto".

di Marco Liguori

From quotidiano.net.

http://qn.quotidiano.net/conti_del_p...evchenko.shtml

[Jeff]

A translation will be helpful lol ; what's the gist of the article?

[Blacktop]

That's the first e-book I've ever read.

[Jeff]

To get this back on track:

source: www.uefa.com

Milan pin hopes on Pato
Wednesday 9 January 2008Focus by Paolo Menicucci from Milan


Milan have high hopes for Pato (©AFP)He may have done little other than train since joining AC Milan in the summer, but already expectations on Brazilian wonderkid Pato are sky high. "If [Pato] continues to do what he does in training he will get 30 goals by June," proclaimed Milan president Silvio Berlusconi, citing the words of coach Carlo Ancelotti and heightening anticipation ahead of the 18-year-old's competitive debut at home to SSC Napoli on Sunday.

Pressure
No pressure there then. For Milan, Pato's introduction cannot come soon enough. The 2007 UEFA Champions League winners are cast away in the lower reaches of Serie A. With just four wins all season they are closer to the relegation zone than a place in Europe. A return of 21 goals in 14 games speaks for itself and it says everything that Milan fans are having to pin their hopes on an untried 18-year-old to bring a moribund domestic season to life.

Clamour
The clamour for Pato is even greater than when Kaká joined the club in 2003 and unprecedented for a player without star stature. The major reason for that is how long Rossoneri fans have been waiting to see the Brazilian wonderkid in action. Pato, whose names translates as duck, joined the European champions from SC Internacional in August for around €15m after catching the eye with a series of brilliant performances at the FIFA U-20 World Cup when he scored three times in four matches. He was ineligible to play for Milan during the first part of the season, however, because of rules preventing Italian teams from registering non-EU players before they turn 18. Pato celebrated his 18th birthday on 2 September by which time the transfer market and date for registering new players was closed. After four months on the sidelines, finally the waiting game is over.

Confidence
Milan fans' appetites were whetted when Pato powered in a header in a friendly against FC Dynamo Kyiv in September. Ancelotti has compared him to former Brazil and SSC Napoli striker Careca and as expected of any hyped-up youngster out of Brazil, Pato is blessed with prodigious skill and array of tricks. Add to that the pace capable of unsettling any defence and power in the air to match and Milan look to have another game-winner on their hands. Most impressive of all, perhaps, is his confidence and he will need every bit of it to deal with the pressure placed on his young shoulders. Should that remain in tact after a tough welcome to the European game by Serie A's defences, the Rossoneri will have substance to back up the hype.

'Shocked'
"I watched a few videotapes of him and I was impressed, almost shocked with his talent," Berlusconi said. "I had the same feeling when I watched the videotape of [Marco] van Basten before we signed him. I dream of a Milan side with Kakà, Pato and Ronaldo in attack." Many believe Pato could follow in the footsteps of his fellow countryman Kaká, including the Ballon d'Or winner himself. "He is very impressive, he has great quality, and he will become a crucial player for this team," Kaká said. "I'm very glad to stay close to him and help him adapt to Italian football." If Pato fulfils just half Milan's expectations, their hopes of becoming the first team to defend the UEFA Champions League title could well come to fruition.


***

I think it will be very interesting to kind of summarize all the commentaries on Milan (that we can find together) and see who gets it right and who doesn't... who is overly critical and who is too generous in their comment.

THis piece by UEFA will certainly be one that we will reflect upon by the end of the season. J

[zakakhan]

PATO SET FOR MILAN BOW
All eyes will be on Alexandre Pato this weekend when the youngster makes his AC Milan debut against Napoli.

The 18-year-old will play his first official game for the Rossoneri on Sunday as Carlo Ancelotti's side look to put to an end their winless run at the San Siro this season.

The Brazilian forward joined Milan from Internacional in August but as he was only 17 years old at the time, Milan were not allowed to register him in the Italian league.

Milan captain Paolo Maldini has already anticipated that the South American prodigy will be a hit in Serie A.

"He is technically very strong and has a physical strength that at 18 is impressive," said Maldini.

Ancelotti's men go into this weekend's encounter looking to reduce an 11-point gap to fourth-place Udinese - although Milan do have three games in hand.

More importantly, the Rossoneri are eager to give an improved display in front of their home fans.

"The fact that we haven't won at the San Siro since April 21 is unbelievable," admitted Maldini.

Serie A leaders Internazionale make the journey to Siena looking to extend their seven-point advantage over Scudetto hopefuls Roma.

Inter will be without David Suazo, Patrick Vieira, Dejan Stankovic and Luis Figo for the encounter due to injury.

"They are all doing their best to return to play as soon as possible," said Inter coach Roberto Mancini of the quartet.

Roma will face a stern challenge when they travel to Bergamo to meet Gigi Del Neri's Atalanta, who have only lost once at home this campaign.

The good news for coach Roma Luciano Spalletti is that his captain, Francesco Totti, has shaken off a foot injury and will be available to play.

A slip by the Giallorossi would see third-placed Juventus leapfrog the Romans in the standings should Claudio Ranieri's men triumph at Catania.

Udinese will be eager to maintain the fine form they showed in 2007 when they meet rock-bottom Cagliari.

The Bianconeri hold the last Champions League qualifying spot but will be under pressure to take all three points with Fiorentina in close attendance.

La Viola travel to Parma looking to clinch their first win on their travels since November 3.

Elsewhere, Sampdoria play host to Palermo eager to collect their second triumph at home this season, and struggling Lazio host Genoa.

In other games, Torino entertain Livorno while Reggina travel to Empoli knowing that a win would see them climb out of the relegation zone at the expense of their opponents.

[Jeff]

AC Milan's visit to Arsenal's Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening could mark the end of an era, yet World Player of the Year Kaka is refusing to accept the sands of time have caught up with the reigning European champions.



AlbertoPizzoli/GettyImages
Kaka: A shining light in Milan's midfield

The Rossonieri's Champions League triumph last May was a surprise success for a side who have long been viewed as more than a little past their sell-buy date, though there now seems to be tangible evidence that Athens 2007 was the final hurrah for a team who has struggled to recapture any semblance of their best form this season.

Veteran performers such as Paolo Maldini and Cafu have stumbled their way through a difficult few months for Milan, with the critics quick to claim their veteran status is the chief factor in their decline.

Out of the Serie A title race many months ago, coach Carlo Ancelotti is tipped by most pundits to be replaced for the start of next season and his exit would doubtless lead to a restructuring of a club whose consistency has been their most impressive quality over the course of the last decade.

Despite the weight of evidence suggesting Milan are a team in terminal decline, Kaka believes they have one final surge within them to see off an Arsenal side whose vibrant exuberance has led many to suggest they will step into the void left by Milan should they drop out of Europe's elite in the near future.

However, Kaka insists experience counts for more than promise and ahead of a last-16 tie that could see a Barak Obama-style wind of change sweeping through the Europe's established elite clubs.

'Even though a lot of critics seem to be keen to write Milan off, the time to do that has not yet arrived,' begins Kaka. 'They say we are an old team and that we have lost our desire, but only last May we beat Liverpool to become European champions. Have we become so poor overnight? I don't think so.

'We had a slow start to the season and couldn't find any home wins, though football is all about cycles. You can hit a winning streak just as easily as a depressing run. Anyway, we've put our problems behind us.

'Since winning the World Club Championship, which was one of our main aims of the season, we've found our feet in Serie A and suddenly we're firing on all cylinders again. After falling down the table, we're very much on the up now. Qualification for the Champions League is the goal, galvanising us, and I see no reason why we shouldn't achieve it.

'Personally, I have certainly not lost my determination to win trophies. Last season's Champions League title makes no difference as I want more. Playing in a winning team is the supreme motivation and we cannot live on past glories. It's impossible. Look at Ronaldinho. His many achievements have not prevented him being criticised at Barcelona.

'Naturally, we are not thrilled to see our rivals Inter running away with the scudetto, but we can take great heart from the fact that Milan tend to be in peak condition when the spring comes along, when the winners of competitions are decided. No one should ever minimise our chances on any field of play.

'Our whole team has rediscovered its equilibrium lately and we are a side on a mission. We've got our confidence and our momentum back, qualities that are essential in football.'

His words represent a stout defence of a team whose have struggled to find many admirers this season and while AC Milan would have favourites to beat Arsenal at most points in recent years, the shifting balance of power suggests Arsene Wenger's Premier League leaders have an outstanding chance to claim a prize scalp this time around.


AdrianDennis/GettyImages
Cesc Fabregas is highly rated by Kaka

In Kaka's mind, this is the nightmare draw for his team and his respect for Arsenal seems to be complete. 'I'd say Arsenal is the toughest possible draw for us,' admits the Brazilian.

'They are one of the form teams in Europe at the moment, are very well placed to win the Premier League, full of confidence and crucially, they play great football. For a Brazilian like me, they represent the right way to approach the game.

'They play with so much style and adventure. They like to take the initiative and play free flowing football. They are on the whole a young team, but it's obvious there's a lot of maturity and mental toughness in the side too. We've noticed they often score late in a game. That's proof enough of their spirit.'

Kaka's tribute to Arsenal boss Wenger is equally gushing, with his suggestion that the world's finest young talent now have an ambition to play for Arsenal a sign that the Gunners' influence is growing at a pace around Europe.

'Many, many young players from all over the world want to play for Arsenal now,' he believes. 'It's a good reputation to have and that's down to Arsene Wenger. He has impeccable judgement as far as talent spotting goes and doesn't fear putting his faith in youth.

'He knows they may initially make rookie mistakes but as long as they learn quickly, he is happy. You just have to look at the progress their young players have made this season to realise he has something very special going at Arsenal.

'They are competing with two of the most powerful clubs in Europe in the Premier League and no one would have given them too much chance of winning just a few weeks ago. Now they have a real chance and deserve to be respected by everyone.'

In a game that will be littered with high quality personal duels, the contest between Kaka and Arsenal talisman Cesc Fabregas is likely to be a key tussle and the AC Milan man is relishing the prospect.

'I like their central defenders William Gallas and Kolo Toure, while Emmanuel Adebayor seems to be able to do everything up front, but it's clear that the one who really makes it all happen for them is Fabregas,' he adds.

'He already has extraordinary football experience and technical ability. He is a fiery competitor too. It goes without saying we will have to ensure he is not a big influence on this tie. I look forward to trying to match him in this game.'

Kaka's status as the world's greatest player may not be on the line this Wednesday night in North London, but AC Milan's reputation as an enduring major player in the European game might just be.

source: soccernet.com