Summer mercato 2009

Originally Posted by Rick

It's funny. Lucio is 31. Diego Milito is 30. If Milan bought these players, everyone would be complaining that Milan only wants to buy 30-plus players with big names. Inter buys these players and it's a stroke of genius that signals the end for Milan.

As usual, mate... the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence...

^^^ But we are good as we are then again if they have no expectations I suppose they are right we are good but it will be a struggle to get in the top 4 as the chasing pack have bought wisely IMO time will tell , well Im ready for the new season Id still love to see the books I can't Imagine that a club who wins the CL twice , the scudetto , the Euro Super Cup twicw the Coppa Italia and the Club World Championship in the last nine years added to that a team which makes between 250 - 290 million in each of those years and makes nearly 200 million in transfers is in such bad shape that clubs like burnley , and , Espanyol West Ham , can spend more money although its not hard to spend more than nothing , well Il always follow Milan and who knows we might be surprised .....Fukit I wanna see those BOOKS!!!

It is an entirely possible situation that we might not get anybody. I have given up all optimism. Berlu intends to sacrifice Milan on the altar of 'saving Italy' one way or the other. If we do win stuff well he'll look like a fantastic businessman who can produce no matter what. If we are crap....imagine him addressing the nation telling the Italians that 'his beloved milan has suffered immensely due the recession but as a (great leader) he put Italy before football etc'....he'll look like a hero/martyr.

Okay, let me try to explain to some of you what's actually going on here. For a variety of reasons (some bad decisions, a propensity to hold onto older players, Berlusconi's involvement in politics that prevents him from throwing money at the club during a bad economy for the sake of appearances, the bad economy, missing the Champions League for a year, etc.), Milan found itself in financial difficulty. We can b1tch and complain and whine about this and the reasons for it all we want, but the situation is what it is. Nothing we can do or say will change that.

Because of the debt, Milan felt it needed to sell Kaka. Most of you disagreed with that decision, but you don't own the club and what's done is done. Kaka is a Real Madrid player. Milan needed the money from Kaka to balance the books. Otherwise, they wouldn't have sold him (Silvio is not stealing from the club as some of you suggest. Why should he? He has the whole Italian government to steal from! ). And because of that, Milan doesn't plan to spend all the money from the Kaka and Gourcuff transfers to buy new players this summer. So dreaming about Milan making big money signings right now is a nice dream, but it's not a realistic dream.

The Milan squad needs a facelift. Many of you who are now b1tching and complaining about the situation have been saying for years that Milan needs a facelift. You're always talking about getting rid of the old players and getting new, younger ones. The problem is that Milan can't throw money around like Real Madrid.

SO HERE IS MILAN'S PLAN FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. GET USED TO IT!!!

1. For the next couple of seasons, Milan's goal is to finish as well as possible with a minimum cash outlay. Milan wants to challenge for the Scudetto, of course, and thinks this is a reasonable goal considering that Serie A is not strong right now. But Milan will be satisfied with a top 3 finish and a good showing in the Champions League because that will help the cash flow.

So it's unrealistic to expect Milan to spend more than 20-25 million euros or so this summer unless Pirlo is sold. That's why Milan doesn't want to spend that much on Fabiano. They would rather have some money left over for, say, a left back or something. That's why they only wanted a loan deal with an option to buy on Huntelaar. So if Sevilla doesn't come down more in price on Fabiano, Milan will wait until next year when they can buy Dzeko (their first choice anyway) for his 20 million euro buyout. In the meantime, Milan might look for another striker on loan, go with a cheap option like Adriano (in hopes he can get his act together) or just stay with the forwards already in the squad while waiting for Dzeko next year.

2. Milan wants to transition from an old squad to a young one. This is something that actually should make most of you very happy. The problem is that this can't be done overnight because it costs money.

If Milan goes with this low investment/decent result strategy for the next couple of years, a lot of the older guys such as Seedorf, Kaladze, Gattuso, Pippo, Dida, Favalli, Ambrosini, Jankulovski, Zambrotta, etc., will come to the end of their contracts. I understand that most of you want to sell them now, but that's not realistic because other clubs don't want to pick up their big contracts and because some of them just don't want to go (especially if it means taking a pay cut). So even if Milan were to sell them, they would have to agree to pick up most of their salaries (while paying still other players in their place). By letting their contracts run out, Milan can release them and be under no further legal contractual obligations.

In the meantime, in case you hadn't noticed, Milan is adding young players at the fastest rate I can recall. Bringing back Abate and Di Gennaro. Buying Zigoni, Beretta, Marcus, Dal Compare, Barbini, Sampirisi, Gava, Iobbi and Tonolini. Milan will spend the next 2-3 years developing those players, along with guys such as Paloschi, Aubameyang, Viudez and Cardacio, so that some of them will be ready to step in and replace the old guys as their contracts run out. This, coupled with bringing in a few promising young players such as Dzeko, Hernanes or whoever, should give Milan a new, young, dynamic squad that hopefully can challenge for trophies for many years.

There is, of course, some risk to this strategy. But there's risk to every strategy. It's certainly less risky than just throwing good money after bad just to plug holes, which is what Milan has sometimes done in the past and would be the result of the panic strategy some of you seem to favor in your hurry to close out the mercato a month and a half early.

In closing, all this moaning and whining about hurrying up and signing players at the other team's price just so they can start training six weeks before the season starts is useless and counterproductive. It's short term panic at a time when Milan finally seems to be developing a more long-term strategy. You may not like what's going on. You might rather Silvio was throwing his billions around and Milan was acting like Real Madrid. But that's not how things are right now. The sooner everyone accepts the current limitations and tries to see things in a more long-term perspective, the less suicidal some may be.

Of course Berlusconi's political position and the recession stop him from spending--we all know that.

No one wants to spend millions like Real. People want players we really need, who are, in all honestly, well within the price range of Milan.

But maybe that will happen in August...

Originally Posted by Hasan Rossonero

Of course Berlusconi's political position and the recession stop him from spending--we all know that.

No one wants to spend millions like Real. People want players we really need, who are, in all honestly, well within the price range of Milan.

But maybe that will happen in August...

Which is exactly what I've been saying all along.

Originally Posted by Hasan Rossonero

No one wants to spend millions like Real. People want players we really need, who are, in all honestly, well within the price range of Milan.

Even I don't know anymore how are the price range of Milan now.

Originally Posted by Rick

Which is exactly what I've been saying all along.

Indeed.

Plus, I still believe in my 5 points:


1) Ronaldinho can be a top player this year, putting in virtuoso performances

2) Borriello will also have a good season

3) Pato will improve further

4) Thiago Silva will be the pacey centerback with a sense of distribution that we have sorely lacked

5) Nesta will play 70% of the games.

I just want Milan to minimize the impact by making some purchases if some of these things don't happen.

Originally Posted by ZvonimirBoban

Even I don't know anymore how are the price range of Milan now.

I think the debt was 65 million. So Kaka's sale pretty much covered that. So, now, with that money and Gourcuff's money plus the money that the club made last year plus the savings on salary by getting rid of Sheva and Kaka', for example, should give them at least 30 million to spend. So, Berlu does not really have to pour that much money in.

Originally Posted by ZvonimirBoban

As usual, mate... the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence...

That's always the case, for sure.

Originally Posted by Hasan Rossonero

Indeed.

Plus, I still believe in my 5 points:


1) Ronaldinho can be a top player this year, putting in virtuoso performances

2) Borriello will also have a good season

3) Pato will improve further

4) Thiago Silva will be the pacey centerback with a sense of distribution that we have sorely lacked

5) Nesta will play 70% of the games.

I just want Milan to minimize the impact by making some purchases if some of these things don't happen.

I agree with this completely. And I do think Milan will bring in at least two players before the mercato closes, but they want to get the best price possible. Right now, the market is overinflated because of Madrid's drunken sailor's night on the town. Everyone wants to cash in. That's why few of the "big clubs" are doing much in the market just yet. But I'm confident that as August rolls around and clubs start feeling antsy, those prices will drop a bit. The market will still be too high, but in August it will be more reasonable.

I think the debt was 65 million. So Kaka's sale pretty much covered that. So, now, with that money and Gourcuff's money plus the money that the club made last year plus the savings on salary by getting rid of Sheva and Kaka', for example, should give them at least 30 million to spend. So, Berlu does not really have to pour that much money in.

I'm not sure just what the finances look like, obviously. I actually was thinking that the debt was supposed to have been around 60 million euros and was figuring based on that, but it might have been 65. I think Milan got about 83 for Kaka and Gourcuff. They spent 2.2 on Abate and some relatively small figure on Di Gennaro, as well as small sums on the bevy of primavera types that have been acquired this summer, but got a little back on players moving the other way. So I figured the player budget should be no less than 20 and possibly as much as 25. It's true that not having Kaka's salary will save some money, but that saving will be over the next year, so I would be inclined to budget that for next year rather than this year. As for Sheva, I really don't know what Milan was paying him during his loan year, but I can't imagine that Chelsea wasn't picking up most of the salary. But however you figure it, Milan should be able to afford a minimum of 20 million euros, so I would be surprised if at least two more players didn't come our way by the deadline.

I second Rick's post. Spot on.

My God Rick that post was actually great your points are right the long term is far more Important than a quick fix I agree with everything you said spot on man.

Originally Posted by Gio-mania

I second Rick's post. Spot on.

Thank you, my friend.

I was just browing and ran across this. It seems Adriano's agent has confirmed that Milan has been in contact with him and that there is a chance Adriano could return to Italy in January.

Rinaldi esce allo scoperto: "Il Milan mi ha chiesto di Adriano"
Sarà l'Imperatore il colpo a sorpresa dei rossoneri?
16/lug/2009 19.23.26

La telenovela legata al ritorno in Italia di Adriano, si arricchisce oggi di una nuova puntata.

L'agente del giocatore Gilmar Rinaldi infatti, intervistato ai microfoni di Mediagol ha confermato la possibilità che il suo assistito possa far ritorno nella nostra serie A con il Milan che è parso molto interessato al giocatore: "Per adesso non c´è nessuna ipotesi che Adriano possa tornare in Italia a dicembre. Il Milan ci ha contattato per sapere se il giocatore aveva qualche clausola che gli impedisse di tornare in Italia e noi abbiamo risposto di no. Adriano, comunque, fino a dicembre vuole rimanere in Brasile".

Chissà che non possa arrivare dunque direttamente a gennaio l'attaccante di peso che Leonardo tanto aspetta.

English translation:

Rinaldi comes to light: "The Milan has asked me to Adriano"
the Emperor will be the surprise hit of rossoneri?
16/lug/2009 19:23:26

The telenovela to return to Italy by Adriano, is enriched today by a new episode.

The player's agent Gilmar Rinaldi in fact, interviewed the microphones of Mediagol confirmed the possibility that his client could return to our series A with AC Milan that seemed very interested in the player: "For now there is no possibility that Adriano will return to Italy in December. The Milan has contacted us to find out if the player had a clause that prevents from returning to Italy and we replied no. Adriano, however, until December to remain in Brazil.

"Who knows who can not get directly in January then the attacker weight Leonardo expect much.

http://www.goal.com/it/news/7/calcio...sto-di-adriano

I actually think this might be a smart option to explore. There's no doubt the guy is massively talented. He's big, physical and skilled. He's only 27. He would fit well into Milan's current limited budget and free up funds for other acquisitions. There is an element of risk, of course. He has acted questionably in the past. But I suspect Adriano could be inspired by Leonardo and might prove to be a better teammate than he was at Inter. It would also be a great opportunity for him to prove himself again. If Milan signed him to a short-term contract -- say, 1 1/2 years -- for a moderate salary (which would still be a nice raise from what he would be making in Brazil), that would actually fit the time scheme of Milan's transition period pretty well. If he returned to greatness, Milian could try to sign him to an extension for a couple more seasons. If not, his contract could expire along with some of the others. I would see that as a low risk, high reward proposition.

Originally Posted by Jay Crisp

My God Rick that post was actually great your points are right the long term is far more Important than a quick fix I agree with everything you said spot on man.

Thanks Jay!

I just want to know what some of you think what our CL victory season would look like if Kaka hadn't been there.......

Originally Posted by Fret

I just want to know what some of you think what our CL victory season would look like if Kaka hadn't been there.......

As many people would tell you on this forum, it's all in the past already, so why worry about it?

But if you wanted a speculative answer, I'd say we would have gone out at Celtic. Arthur Boruc was and is still a very good keeper, much better than what we had between our sticks back then. Given that everything could have evened itself out, we would probably have been dumped out of CL there.

But as I said, its all in the past, so why worry?

Rick is making a good point about being long term, but with that said, I really have doubts we'll see anyone of quality coming in this mercato (call me a pessimist, I'd say I just have high standards ).

If reports about Hernanes were true, that we could really get him for 10 Mil, I really don't think we would even be negotiating. We'd be able to get a future playmaker, keep our current one, and still have a minimum of 10 Mil to get whoever we wanted (Yes, Rick, I'm using your estimations ). I don't see how that could be a bad deal for the future, specially if the other option means we grab Fabiano for like 17 Mil and have 3 Mil left for whoever we want.

That said, I really have my doubts about the 10 Mil rumour, so too with the Dzeko 20 Mil clause. It's all in the papers, can any of it be confirmed?

By the way, I really think Adriano would be a better alternative than Fabiano, given we'd probably not have to pay as much for such a risk (remember, we don't know how well Fabiano will adapt to Italy from Spain). It'd be kinda like Ronaldo, except he doesn't come completely out of shape . That would give us a much needed boost in cash for a better, quality player in whatever position my fellow fans here wish to reinforce.

P.s: I always felt that if Adri had come to Milan, then he would never have had the problems he had in the first place. Inter just has a knack of bringing out the worst in people, and it just doesn't suit some players natures.

To be optimistic about..........


...well what?

That we shall win the scudetto or that we shall be 3rd in the end?

I am not only optimistic, but really sure that Milan will be at least 4th in the end of this season.
But if we talk about the scudetto........