Summer mercato 2009

I think when it comes to Gourcuff, the move was down to him. That's the thing, and while I am sure that he would have been a good addition to the squad, I would not trust him with taking over from Kaka, quite frankly.

But I don't see why people can get so mad at other players, when Gourcuff was the one who turned down Milan. He was too afraid to come here, and he obviously knew that Ancelotti would leave, as would Kaka, and that he would have a great chance of playing a lot.

So if you ask me, it wasn't the management's fault for Gorky's departure, maybe the fee (but 15million would be a lot for a player that Gorky was for the last two years before) but it was Gorky's fault. He was too much of a coward to come to Milan, and that's fine, that's why he won't make it at a top club.

these old farts have won two champion league trophies in 5 years plus have made it to 3 finals. I hate Milan transfer policy but at least we avoid the mountains of debt incurred by teams like Manchester United and Liverpool.

It not like Milan had a choice when Bordeaux brought Gourcuff they had a clause to buy the player and they invoked it anyway it not like gourcuff ever proved himself at Milan for all we know he could have been a massive flop.

In any case Milan obviously lack the financial fire power to buy talented players forcing Milan to buy old players like emerson ronaldo and brochi and relatively unknown young players like cardacio gourcuff legati and viduez

Hopefully with the cash Milan can buy 4 or 5 younger players and we can have a future base for success.

Originally Posted by Samaldinho

I think when it comes to Gourcuff, the move was down to him. That's the thing, and while I am sure that he would have been a good addition to the squad, I would not trust him with taking over from Kaka, quite frankly.

But I don't see why people can get so mad at other players, when Gourcuff was the one who turned down Milan. He was too afraid to come here, and he obviously knew that Ancelotti would leave, as would Kaka, and that he would have a great chance of playing a lot.

So if you ask me, it wasn't the management's fault for Gorky's departure, maybe the fee (but 15million would be a lot for a player that Gorky was for the last two years before) but it was Gorky's fault. He was too much of a coward to come to Milan, and that's fine, that's why he won't make it at a top club.

We'll see about that, but either way management really screwed up by fixing the option to buy at just €15m - I mean if Benzema is worth nearly 3 times that, surely we could've gotten at least twice that amount (not from Bordeaux, but from a richer club).

EDIT: And I don't blame Gourcuff for not wanting to return. He wanted to be sure of a place in France's squad for the World Cup, and even if he knew Kaká was leaving, he wouldn't be guaranteed a regular spot like at Bordeaux. Also if he didn't succeed at Milan the second time around, it would be much more difficult for him to get out, as Milan surely would ask for much more than €15m. Of course it's a very negative/cautious approach, but after his first two seasons here, it's somewhat understandable.

Sell Gorky (a young prospect according to a lot of people) for 15 mil and buy Cissokho (a complete mystery) for those very same 15 mil.

It just defies common sense to me. What's next? Barca sells Messi and replaces him with Abate?

Originally Posted by tardissun

The new revolution could have been built around Kaka, Pato, and Pirlo. Instead of dumping them, dump the problems - Dida, Slowdorf, Kaladze, Ambro, Janku, etc...

To my knowledge, Milan hasn't sold Pato or Pirlo, only Kaka. And selling the players you mentioned would not have been a financial solution at all. Selling all of them wouldn't bring anything close to half the return Milan got for Kaka. It's easy for fans to say "sell this player for X amount," but who is actually going to buy them for the amount you want? Kaka was the only option to bring in that kind of silly money.

Well, we could have really used Gourcuff to replace Kaka. Nope, sold him too and for a SMALL sum. Doesn't sound like we're making smart moves.

Why do people keep saying things like this? Does nobody actually pay attention? Milan never, ever saw Gourcuff as a replacement for Kaka. They had planned to groom him more as a replacement for Pirlo because he lacks speed. But in two full seasons at Milan, he never showed that he could cut it in Serie A. To this day he hasn't proven himself at the Serie A level. It's one thing to be hot doggie doo in France, but something quite different entirely to stand out in Serie A. And it's not as though the guy didn't have plenty of chances. Would Milan have brought him back and given him another opportunity had Bordeaux not exercised their option to buy? Yes, they would have. But at the time Milan loaned him to Bordeaux with the option to buy, he had been pretty much a washout at the San Siro. It's silly for some of you to keep harping on this as though Milan had let Maradona get away in his prime (like, you know, Barcelona did ).

Originally Posted by Ceceves

We'll see about that, but either way management really screwed up by fixing the option to buy at just €15m - I mean if Benzema is worth nearly 3 times that, surely we could've gotten at least twice that amount (not from Bordeaux, but from a richer club).

Benzema isn't worth three times that and Gourcuff wasn't worth any more than the 15 million at the time the loan option was signed. It's not as though Milan set that price after he had the great season at Bordeaux. They set it after two extremely mediocre seasons at Milan.

Originally Posted by Rick

Benzema isn't worth three times that and Gourcuff wasn't worth any more than the 15 million at the time the loan option was signed. It's not as though Milan set that price after he had the great season at Bordeaux. They set it after two extremely mediocre seasons at Milan.

But nonetheless Lyon is making nearly three times what we made with Gourcuff's sale. I think management acted irresponsibly by setting the option to buy at €15m. Even if based on his two seasons at Milan he wasn't worth more, he still had potential. There's a reason why we bought him in the first place (petit Zizou!), and there was always a chance, that with some more opportunities that talent would translate into something. And it did. Galliani & Co. dropped the ball there.

It's getting a little annoying with all the Gourcuff crap in here. The point is, a year ago when we 'loaned Gourcuff + option to buy' nobody seemed to mind it. People paid no attention to it. Some called it a good deal and it's good that he is going to get loaned out......others simple didn't care at all.

Now, a year after everyone is being smart and calling it a horrible deal (Caceves this is not dircectly at you but in general response to all the posts about Gourcuff in the last month)....how could we do that......how could we lose him for 15mil.......stupid Galliani.....f u Galliani!!!

It's easy to make decisions once you've seen the outcome isn't it.

Galliani and LEONARDO together went to France to talk to Gourcuff. He obviously knew what was going on at Milan and who was going to be the new coach. HE CHOSE not to come back.....he wanted to stay there because of the WC or whatever the reason. DONE DEAL. That's it. He was sent there to gain confidence and find himself. He did that and then denied the chance to come back.

This is the transfer market. You never have a perfect summer. You win some you lose some. I know Galliani has done some horrible deals, everyone actually involved in business makes bad deals, it's just the way it is. Anyhow as a matter of fact, I am extremely unhappy at what's going on at Milan now and I hate Galliani at the moment. But I won't call the Gourcuff deal the bad deal of the summer because that deal was done a year ago when nobody even expected that Gourcuff will go back to France and become the best player there. Like I said, it's easy to come here and be smart after you've seen the consequences, but where was everyone with these comments 1 year ago when the deal was actually done for Gourcuff.

Originally Posted by nefremo

It's getting a little annoying with all the Gourcuff crap in here. The point is, a year ago when we 'loaned Gourcuff + option to buy' nobody seemed to mind it. People paid no attention to it. Some called it a good deal and it's good that he is going to get loaned out......others simple didn't care at all.

Now, a year after everyone is being a smart ass and calling it a horrible deal....how could we do that......how could we lose him for 15mil.......stupid Galliani.....f u Galliani!!!

It's easy to make decisions once you've seen the outcome isn't it.

And it's not that hard to be a little cautious, when dealing with something that involves millions of €.

Noone would've counted on Gourcuff to do what he's done this season, but Milan should at least have considered the possibility. That's my opinion, anyway.



Now for some sad news:

AC Milan Star Clarence Seedorf Turns Down Ajax Offer - Report
The Milan midfielder has rejected a move to former club Ajax, preferring to end his career with the Rossoneri.

According to reports earlier today from Sky, Milan had reached an agreement with Ajax for midfielder Clarence Seedorf, who got his big break as a player at the Dutch club.

However, the move allegedly fell through because the 33-year-old refused a return to his home country, stating that he wants to end his career in Milan.

This was denied by the player's entourage, who stated that Seedorf did receive an offer from new Ajax coach Martin Jol in the past few days, which the player refused, but that no contact had been made between the two clubs.

The attacking midfielder's contract expires in two years. He has been with the Rossoneri since the summer of 2002, winning the Champions League in 2003 and 2007, and the Scudetto in 2004. He won his first Champions League trophy with Ajax in 1995 when he was 19 years old.

Danilo Pochini, Goal.com

I really hope Seedorf plays amazing next season. Not because I'm a huge fan of Seedorf (I'm rather indifferent, to be honest) but because I can't wait to see what people have to say if he does do well.

That's right......he's not stupid to go to Ajax now. They won't nearly offer him the salary that we give him. In any case.....I don't really mind Seedorf here as long as he doesn't play every single match that we are involved in like Carlo used him. Also, if he performs he can play, and if he doesn't he can be a back up. That's the way it should be but Carlo seemed to ignore that fact which is why I think many people are irritated with Seedorf including myself.

Samaldinho,
I am one of the people that lost my patience with Seedorf the last few months of the season. And I'll be glad if he plays great next season. I actually want him to stay here as a back up, and then if he performs make him a starter. I don't care.....because whoever performs should play. It's the way I am....I love Milan. And I don't care about the names of players I just care about their performances. I bashed Kaka on a more then few occasions too because of his inconsistency. If you ask me, Kaka was probably one of the most inconsistent performers this past season and maybe even the year before that (playing great in CL, then turning a crap performance 3 days later in Serie A). And I'm not only saying this now that he is gone, but I was saying it way before the season ended.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Seedorf hater. If he stayed here as a backup I'd be fine with that, but I can't see him accepting that role. Maybe it's just because of all that time Carlo played him when he was clearly not up to it.

Anyway if Seedorf starts starts 40+ games next season and excels I'd be exstatic, and I will have misjudged him. But as it is I cannot see Seedorf having a positive influence on the team next season, unless it's in a more reduced role.

You are right.....but I don't think it'll be a misjudgment on your behalf or anyone's for that matter. Because I think everyone knows that Seedorf is a good player. Even at his age, he is still better that many CMs out there. It's the exact fact that you mentioned about Carlo that has people irritated about Seedorf. I don't think anyone would argue to have a player like Seedorf in their squad.....but if he doesn't perform he'll only be a back up. And right now for me, Seedorf should only be a back up because of his performances. But also, when I say a back up, I don't mean that he only plays if someone gets injured but like you said...give him a reduced role. Play him once every 2/3 games or so. Put him in when we need to close a game because of his intelligence on the field, etc.

He has to understand that he will start from scratch now (Unless he knows that Leonardo has the same kind of admiration for him as Carlo did.........which I highly doubt). And he needs to earn a place. But for some reason I am also afraid of the same thing you are. He is a player with an ego and he won't accept a back up role. It might be a problem within the squad if that happens.

Why isnt Carlo asking for his butt buddy Seedorf @ Chelsea?

Originally Posted by Rick

Why do people keep saying things like this? Does nobody actually pay attention? Milan never, ever saw Gourcuff as a replacement for Kaka. They had planned to groom him more as a replacement for Pirlo because he lacks speed. But in two full seasons at Milan, he never showed that he could cut it in Serie A. To this day he hasn't proven himself at the Serie A level. It's one thing to be hot doggie doo in France, but something quite different entirely to stand out in Serie A. And it's not as though the guy didn't have plenty of chances.

Agreed. People insist on looking at Gourcuff as the Second Coming in order to fuel their anti-management invective even further.

He may have ruled Bordeaux but couldn't cut the mustard in Milan, plain and simple.