Official Ac Milan Rumors Thread

Zambrotta is by far the best player in that position in the world. Defensively no full back can match his positioning, speed and reading of the game. His diagonal is masteful.

From an attacking point of view just look what he did for Italy at the WC.

One of the few players who can hugely improve this side, and do it immediately: no time to settle or to learn the Serie A game.

Calcio Debate: Who Do Milan Need To Buy?

With the January transfer window now re-opened, Carlo Garganese investigates what players need to be bought to turn around the Rossoneri’s stuttering season…



zoom - galleria AC Milan may have already captured the European Super Cup and the World Club Cup this season, however I am sure that Coach Carlo Ancelotti will (secretly) be the first to admit that these less than prestigious trophies cannot succeed in papering over the cracks currently present in the Rossoneri squad.



At the beginning of the new calendar year, Milan are languishing in 12th position in Serie A, an incredible 25 points behind league-leading city rivals Inter.



They have still failed to win at home in the league this season, drawing five and losing two of their seven games (eight games and three defeats if you include the derby clash with Inter), and perhaps even more worryingly, scoring just a miserly three goals, two of which were penalties.



I personally believe that despite Milan’s struggles they are not that far away from being a great team. However in order to achieve this, and offer themselves a chance of retaining the Champions League in May, they simply have to make a few top-class transfer purchases.



Current Milan First Team Squad:



Goalkeepers: Nelson Dida, Zeljko Kalac, Valerio Fiori



Defenders: Daniele Bonera, Cafu, Digao, Giuseppe Favalli, Marek Jankulovski, Kakha Kaladze, Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Massimo Oddo, Serginho, Dario Simic



Midfielders: Massimo Ambrosini, Ibrahim Ba, Cristian Brocchi, Emerson, Rino Gattuso, Yoann Gourcuff, Kaka, Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf



Forwards: Willy Aubameyang, Alberto Gilardino, Filippo Inzaghi, Ronaldo, Alexandre Pato





Attack



Let’s start with the biggest problem position of them all - and surprisingly enough I am not talking about Nelson Dida.



The reason Milan have struggled so badly at times this campaign has been their impotency up-front. I have lost count of the number of games where the likes of Pirlo, Seedorf and Kaka have controlled the midfield, but have had no one to supply in the forward positions.



Ronaldo has the quality but the truth is he is always injured and it may not be a bad idea to let him leave in January.



Alberto Gilardino is just not good enough – it is as simple as that. He is technically poor, cannot create chances for himself, and his movement and striker intelligence is abysmal. He really is the Italian version of Emile Heskey.



As for Filippo Inzaghi – well I think he is still of very valuable use to Milan, but at the age of 34 – this should only be as a substitute in a tight game. Using him as first striker, as Ancelotti has done on numerous occasions this campaign is just pointless. He just hasn’t got the attributes to play in this role.



So Milan need two strikers for certain.



Alexandre Pato could plug one of these holes. He has been described by some as the best young Brazilian talent since Ronaldo exploded onto the scene in the mid-1990s.



“Ancelotti has already placed a bet for the 2008 Ballon d’Or – and he thinks it will be Pato,” declared Vice-President Adriano Galliani recently.



If this proves to be the case, then all Milan would need is a target man striker to play alongside Pato. Palermo star Amauri would be the perfect choice here. He is at the right age of maturity at 27, has numerous years of Serie A experience and also has the technical ability to go with his physical qualities.



Another option could be Chelsea’s Didier Drogba, although he will certainly be unattainable until at least the end of the season, and by that time he will be 30.



Midfield



The Rossoneri still undoubtedly have one of the best midfields in Europe.



Andrea Pirlo is the best deep-lying playmaker in the world, Kaka is the best attacking midfielder in the world, while Gennaro Gattuso, Massimo Ambrosini and Clarence Seedorf, despite the latter’s inconsistency, are no slouches either.



However it is clear that underneath these players there are no adequate replacements. Given the fact that Seedorf is 31, Ambrosini is 30, Gattuso will be 30 next week, and Pirlo is nearly 29, it is self-explanatory that these players cannot play every week – they need to be rested now and again.



However the options in reserve are Brocchi, Emerson and Gourcuff. If Brocchi’s effort matched his ability he would be the best player in the world – unfortunately this is not the case. Emerson was world-class during his Roma days, however now he runs around as if he is desperate to go to the toilet – and I will never understand what possessed Milan to purchase him in the summer.



Finally Gourcuff has been hailed as the ‘new Zidane’ in some quarters, however I have seen no evidence to suggest that he is even worthy of polishing the great man’s shoes.



The most obvious addition to Milan’s attacking midfield department could be Ronaldinho. This transfer certainly could take place in the summer, possibly even in January if the Rossoneri wanted it to, however I am not sure it would be a good idea.



I am not convinced at all that Ronaldinho and Kaka can play in the same team together. Never was this better exemplified than during the World Cup in Germany last summer when the duo repeatedly took up the same positions and as a result both had poor tournaments as Brazil crashed out in the quarter-finals.



Alessandro Rosina of Torino would be a great choice. A fantastically gifted winger, who could easily adapt into the Kaka or Seedorf position, he would also add a bit of extra pace to the team.



Milan certainly need an alternative for Andrea Pirlo. When he is out of the team they lose the player who makes them tick. Lazio’s Cristian Ledesma, who despite his poor season, could be a good reserve to have, as could Arsenal's Matthieu Flamini, whose contract runs out in the summer.



Luca Cigarini of Parma, who has been described by some as the “new Andrea Pirlo” is also another option. The Rossoneri are certainly an ageing team, with nine of their first-choice XI either over or soon to turn 30 years of age.



If Milan do not start introducing some young blood into the team, in a couple of seasons they will be in a simply disastrous position.



The likes of Cafu, Serginho and Giuseppe Favalli, who are not first-team players, all need to be moved on in the summer in order to make way for some youngsters.



Defence



In the centre of defence Milan have nothing to worry about. Alessandro Nesta proved against Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the derby that he is still one of the best defenders in the world, while Kakha Kaladze is a top-class partner for the ex-Italy international.



Daniele Bonera has shown promise as a replacement, however with Paolo Maldini retiring in the summer, another quality centre back is required, possibly a youngster with versatility, who can also play right or left back, and will eventually take over from Nesta in a few years.



Sergio Ramos, who is much admired by Milan would be the perfect man for this role, as he could also fill in at right back, which has been a troublesome position this season. Tomas Ujfalusi is available on a free at the end of the season, although he will turn 30 in the summer.



Massimo Oddo has been simply dreadful this campaign, however, for some reason or another, his poor showings have not been highlighted by the media. On the other side Marek Jankulovski has been steady, although I am sure that Milan would not hesitate to find a better replacement here.



The obvious choice is Gianluca Zambrotta, who is certain to join the Rossoneri, the only question being whether this takes place in January or June. I would urge Galliani and Berlusconi to sign him this month. Other possibilities are Bayern Munich’s Willy Sagnol, who reportedly is unhappy in Germany, and the brilliant Daniel Alves of Sevilla, although he would not come cheap.



Goalkeeper



Finally the second-biggest problem in the Milan team – Nelson Dida.



An Italian journalist said a few weeks ago that every time a team has a shot against Milan it results in a goal – and this really has appeared to be the case this season.



The Brazilian has made a huge catalogue of errors and he simply has to be replaced. Gianluigi Buffon has proved on numerous occasions that good goalkeepers win you matches, while Dida has demonstrated that poor one’s lose you them.



The three shot-stoppers heavily linked with the Rossoneri are Sebastien Frey, Artur Boruc and PSV Eindhoven’s Gomes. I would stay way clear of Gomes, and if I had to choose between Frey and Boruc, I would opt for Boruc.



The Pole is a phenomenon, he has impeccable positioning and brilliant reflexes and I am sure would be a big star for the Rossoneri. Frey has also proved himself to be a brilliant shot-stopper and he pulled off some miraculous saves in a match with Inter early in December. However for all his ability, his positioning and decision-making is sometimes a little suspect.

surprisingly...d author was spot on! :O

i hope berlu reads that and wakes up.but in goal i want buffon,i would so love to see him in red and black..wet dreams )

Milan derby for Berbatov

There is a Milan derby on the transfer market for Dimitar Berbatov, as both San Siro giants send representatives to White Hart Lane.

The Bulgarian hitman alerted clubs all over Europe when his agent pointed out a move was on the cards.

“Dimitar wants to fulfil his potential and win trophies now,” agent Emil Dantchev told the BBC.

“Time is running out for him to play for a club that can match his ambition. I would like to stress this is not about money. This is about sporting ambition.”

Both Milan and Inter have reacted immediately and, according to ‘**********’ newspaper, have sent representatives for negotiations with his Italian agent Roberto De Fanti.

It is likely a move will only occur in June, as Spurs do not want to sell their star striker mid-season, but neither Italian outfit wants to pay the full £18m asking price.

Former Bayer Leverkusen hero Berbatov netted 90 goals in all competition during his time in Germany and this season already has 17 under his belt.

Milan need a new forward to rejuvenate their squad, as Pippo Inzaghi and Ronaldo do not have the stamina or fitness to maintain an entire season at the top level.

Inter have a selection of strikers, but Adriano is increasingly unlikely to return even after his six-month loan spell at Sao Paolo expires, while Hernan Crespo’s injuries have made him a marginal figure this term.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...lia/jan5f.html

Let's hope that another Ibrahimovic doesn't happen with Berbatov if Milan's interests for him are real.

well berbatov, Benzema or Aguerro all can sovle Milan's problem but important things is that Milan already declared they wouldn't sign any one January Transfer window.

I am Milan in heart and soul through and through, i am English and over here defend all the critisism aimed at milan and Italian football untill i'm blue in the face but i have to say enough is enough, yes they won the European super cup and World club cup this season and along with you all i jumped for joy, but the gaps are to obvious now, the mistakes and inconsistency is far to often and here we are at yet the end of another transfer window after in the summer signing Pato, a player whom has been unable to play for 6 months untill now.... Who have this massive club signed????? nobody and as a fan i am so pi55ed off and want to know why i have read rumors and speculation of Ronaldinho, Zambrotta, Buffon, Amelia, Lucio, Drogba and countless other names linked with the club and its all cr4p and anyone who says we don't need to strengthen can quite frankly ki55 my a55 because the squad we have at the minute are going to go nowhere fast anymore and if they fail to qualify for the champions league for next season you can say goodbye to Kaka, Nesta and Pirlo, plus the so called hopes of signing any other big names because we seem to be struggling now nevermind without being in next years champions league. Milan maybe the most successful team ever but it wont last at this rate because there is no future with the club, the transfer guru's and chairman alike have messed up big time. In Pato and Kaka Milan only have 2 real prospects in the teams future and i'm talking world beaters not o"oh well this guy COULD be good" at milan you HAVE to be good, the best and they will look around and see within 12 months this team is knackered, its happening now never mind in a years time, i'm so angry. I still believe Nesta to be the greatest defender around but he looks like he is out there on his own most of the time and what is it going to take for the money men to see we need a new goal keeper because the current crop are the laughing stock of europe, midfield i'm sorry for you lovers but Seedorf plays far more bad games than he does good and should of been replaced in the summer and i have to say Pirlo 1 of my favorite players has been so off his usual standard its not even funny. It hurts me to critisise the players that have served so well but i am trying to think in terms of the club that i love and its future which at the minute i can't see. I think its also time to replace Ancelotti with somebody not affraid to make decisions and ask the board for new players, somebody who isn't afraid to shake things up, Mourinho would be perfect and it has been rumored that he is to sign in the summer, but its all this club seems to be about these days... Rumours

bringing berbatov would be a waste shot. he's not that kind of attacker that we need. i think that milano board should pay more attention to new generation of talented players like sergio aguero, benzema, etc. let's face it - if berbatov was for anything - he wouldn't be playing with spurs.

JD07: MU wants him, so he can't be so bad ... lol
MU did good mercatos these last few years.

Originally Posted by JD07

bringing berbatov would be a waste shot. he's not that kind of attacker that we need. i think that milano board should pay more attention to new generation of talented players like sergio aguero, benzema, etc. let's face it - if berbatov was for anything - he wouldn't be playing with spurs.

Berbatov is not a waste by any mean, 40 plus goals in 2 season and half, dont bother he will be playing with big club like Man U, or chelsea next season

Originally Posted by JD07

bringing berbatov would be a waste shot. he's not that kind of attacker that we need. i think that milano board should pay more attention to new generation of talented players like sergio aguero, benzema, etc. let's face it - if berbatov was for anything - he wouldn't be playing with spurs.

We already have Pato who resembles that mold...we need an in the box striker like Berbatov, Amauri, Huntelaar or Toni. A target man like Pippo only younger.

You guys offered Gomes a contract, as did Arsenal (and some other teams). I expect him to chose for AC Milan. I can't over a source (link) but you will see I'm right.

Gomes, one of the best goalkeepers in the history of the Eredivisie!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RlJXZnGh90

And his saves against AC Milan (AC Milan - PSV 0-0 )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYzUPLbpqls

ancelotti:"The Brazilian of Palermo? Much difficult one. Ronaldo? It depends on he. Drogba? Nothing of true":

http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA...elotti10.shtml

translate with that site:

http://dictionary.reference.com/translate/

http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/gif/20080513/13porbn.jpg

http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/web/g...464082666.html