Summer Mercato 2011

[ACMILAN1983]

What happened to the whole Montolivo situation? It's just a few more weeks before the new season starts. Hopefully Ganso arrives in January though, after the Club World Cup.

Montolivo situation still exists, but a lot seems to depend on Cassano and Fiorentina lowering their price.

Anyway, welcome to MM

[millinarios]

Arsenal won't give up to hold him in Arsenal but there is also one significant factor involves in this saga, Fabregas. It will be stupid for Arsenal if they play Fabregas while they know they 'have to' sell Fabregas (due to his desire leaving for bigger club, if the news about it true). It will lower his price and no club won't do such thing IMO.

The thing is, they don't have to sell Fabregas now, and that's why they rejected all of Barcelona's offers so far. They take the players will into account, but if the offer is not adequate, they will not accept it. And because Fabregas is only 24, and his contract runs till 2015, they have plenty of time to cash in on him later.

[Nalx]

Considering Moratti's sense of building a great squad..., well, I'm just happy they're selling them.

Exactly! And, Kastriot, you won't find a better cornerstone upon which to build another winning team than a 24/7 whiner like Tevez. All you gotta do is pay him £250k per week (his alleged pay after publicly saying he wanted to leave six months ago), and bring his daughters, families, and the whole Buenos Aires to Italy to make him at home. And stop the rain too, he hates it. It is a mistake IMHO, and a blatant one at it, to sell your best players at this point of when the season is about to begin. Look at what happened after Leo's sudden move to PSG. Where'd it leave them? A 4th (or 5th) choice coach in Gasp.
I disagree that Eto'o is that old. He's 30, Sneijder 27, they're at their prime.

But like Axe said, considering Moratti's sense of building a great squad, I wouldn't be surprised if he repeated the same mistakes he committed prior to Calciopoli when a large number of big names came and went. From Ronaldo, Vieri, Crespo to the likes of Domoraud and Carini; from Hodgson, Simoni to Cuper. Only under Mancini and later on Moaninho did he learn the importance of having a stabile, core team and gradually adding only the missing links here and there instead of hauling the team (and coach) year in year out. And all the signs are really encouraging. Twelve months after Moaninho's departure they have their 3rd coach now. As your siggie put it, normal service resumes indeed

[Siregar]

They definitively don't have to since they own the player 100% but the situation could make them 'have to' sell the player who does want to leave the club. What they 'can' do, is waiting till the end of mercato to get the best price. Otherwise they will still have the player who could be unhappy with his team which could influence his form with Arsenal (worse performance), something Arsenal don't want.

[Jay Crisp]

Lucas Biglia to Milan 25 year old Argy mid playing with Anderlecht , any info never saw him play that I can remember... http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/201...ilan-talks

[millinarios]

They definitively don't have to since they own the player 100% but the situation could make them 'have to' sell the player who does want to leave the club. What they 'can' do, is waiting till the end of mercato to get the best price. Otherwise they will still have the player who could be unhappy with his team which could influence his form with Arsenal (worse performance), something Arsenal don't want.

This whole saga is not new, and had been going on the whole summer last year too, and at that time Arsenal not seemed to really care about Cesc beign unhappy at their club. I think it's highly probable that they could do the same again with eventually keeping the player, if nothing gets concluded till Aug. 16.

I just don't see Barcelona or Milan going for him if he gets cup-tied. And since he is in the squad, he has a chance of playing too...

[theaxeofpain]

Hmm never seen him play too. Looks like he's an all-round midfielder from some youtube videos. Though I know you can never judge a player from youtube.

[millinarios]

But like Axe said, considering Moratti's sense of building a great squad, I wouldn't be surprised if he repeated the same mistakes he committed prior to Calciopoli when a large number of big names came and went. From Ronaldo, Vieri, Crespo to the likes of Domoraud and Carini; from Hodgson, Simoni to Cuper. Only under Mancini and later on Moaninho did he learn the importance of having a stabile, core team and gradually adding only the missing links here and there instead of hauling the team (and coach) year in year out. And all the signs are really encouraging. Twelve months after Moaninho's departure they have their 3rd coach now. As your siggie put it, normal service resumes indeed

I remember reading something about Moggi tricking Inter into buying Domoraud (he was attending a match to scout someone else, then he spotted Inter's scout on the stands, so he gave out leaks stating that "Moggi is scouting Domoraud" - and Inter jumped on it)

Anyway, I think the only time when Inter made mostly intelligent transfers is when they had Mourinho to give them advices. And I say mostly, because Mou was behind the signing of Quaresma as well...

[Jay Crisp]

Hmm never seen him play too. Looks like he's an all-round midfielder from some youtube videos. Though I know you can never judge a player from youtube.

It's also a link of DOOOOOM!! from goal.com.But hey something to check out at least.

[Nalx]

LOL Millinarios. I remember reading about that too. And don't forget how Moggi talked them into swapping Cannavaro with Carini. Top-of-the-shelf trickery

About Biglia, I've only seen him on the last Copa America. He was a sub for Cambiasso and Gago (a sub in Madrid). Big no for him because of the following reasons (and in order of importance too):

1. We are well covered in his position (DM) with Rino, Max, van Bommel, Flamini, and young Strasser. And even one (or more than one) of them leaves next summer, from what little I've seen. . .
2. He's nothing special.
3. Lastly, not that I mean disrespect to Belgian League, but haven't we had enough experience with players from this league in Oguchi? Jovanovic was on Bosman and he warmed Pool's bench last season before returning home. And this summer, we're linked with Axel Witsel who after alleged scoutings by Braida, the rumour suddenly, if deservedly, cooled off.