Summer mercato 2009

Originally Posted by Gabriel489

July 20, 09. Still not one significant signings.

Counting down the days till Galli will come out and state that fans should be grateful Milan did not sell Mr. 4-time CL winner....the team is competitive enough....T. Silva is a new signing....Borreillo, Nesta and Kaladze are like new signings as they rarely played last year....Leo will give chances to the young kids(not like he has many other choices)....Milan did made alot of signings-recalling players, and more than any other teams in Europe....WE RULE THE TRANSFER MARKET.....

I just hope I can eat my words by Sept 1, 09

You are a truly a prophet (sarcasm)!

I think you just stole the words right out of Galliani's mouth. noticed that he is being a bit shy at the moment in regards ot the media.... Maybe this time, he really has nothing to talk about!

Italy Team Of The Decade 2000-2010
As we approach 2010, Goal.com's Carlo Garganese selects his Italy national team best XI from the past decade...
20 Jul 2009 09:00:59
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Paolo Maldini, Italia (PA)
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The first ten years of the new millennium were certainly mixed with great emotions for the Italy national team. The Azzurri won their fourth World Cup at Germany 2006, the country’s first in 24 years, with Ghana, United States, Czech Republic, Australia, Ukraine, Germany and France dispatched on the path to glory.

Italy came agonizingly close to winning Euro 2000; leading 1-0 in the final against France, Sylvain Wiltord equalised in the fourth minute of injury time, before David Trezeguet blasted home the Golden Goal in extra time. La Nazionale crashed out amidst huge controversy at World Cup 2002 and Euro 2004. Finally, at Euro 2008, an ageing Italy limped through to the quarter finals before losing on penalties in the quarter finals against eventual winners Spain.

Carlo Garganese selects his best Italy XI from the past decade…

Formation: 3-5-2

Gianluigi Buffon (1997- )

After making his Italy debut in the snow of Russia in 1997 at the age of 19, Buffon would have played at Euro 2000 but was ruled out through injury. He has starred at every major international tournament since, and was a major protagonist at the 2006 World Cup conceding just two goals – a freak own goal and contentious penalty – as Italy won the trophy. Buffon is currently just five short of 100 caps, and he will surely be his country’s all-time appearance holder when he retires. With perfect positioning, imperious decision-making, and outstanding pedigree in all departments except on penalties, Buffon may eventually be remembered as the greatest goalkeeper of all time.





Gianluca Zambrotta (1999- )

Debuting in 1999, Zambrotta has been an Italy regular for a decade now. He began his national career as a right midfielder-cum-wingback, a role he occupied at both Euro 2000 and World Cup 2002. In the former he was solid as Italy finished runners-up, although he missed the final after being sent off in the epic semi win over hosts Holland. In Korea-and-Japan, he suffered a serious injury during the notorious second round exit. After switching to full back for his club, he interpreted the same role for his country. Between 2004 and 2006, Zambrotta was arguably the best full back in the world, and he was immense as Italy earned their fourth star in Germany, bombing up and down the right flank, and scoring a long-range effort in the quarter final against Ukraine.





Alessandro Nesta (1996-2006)

Nesta is just another in a long-line of world class Italian centre backs, following on from the likes of Gaetano Scirea, Claudio Gentile, Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta. The Rome-native was certainly the classiest defender of his generation, combining pace, strength, aerial prowess and tactical knowhow, with a magnificent reading of the game and the ability to bring the ball out of defence and instigate attacks. A contender for the best defender of the past 10 years, along with Lilian Thuram and Fabio Cannavaro, Nesta was almost impenetrable at Euro 2000, but he was unlucky with injuries at many of his other major tournaments, including in 2006 when he didn’t play past the third group game. This convinced Nesta to retire from internationals on 78 caps.





Fabio Cannavaro (1997- )

Was there a better centre back partnership during the noughties than Cannavaro and Nesta? The two stoppers go together like a horse and carriage, to quote a line from a certain Frank Sinatra song. The pair complimented each other perfectly, forming the backbone of the Italy defence for four major international tournaments. Cannavaro was at his peak during the 2006 World Cup when he was undoubtedly the player of the tournament, an unbreakable ‘Berlin Wall’ who was the symbol of Italy’s success. Cannavaro had to play without Nesta throughout the entire knockouts, but was so imperious that he even turned Marco Materazzi into a top-class performer. Following the shootout win over France, captain Cannavaro lifted the World Cup on the occasion of his 100th cap, and he has since gone on to reach Paolo Maldini’s games record.





Paolo Maldini (1988-2002)

Having finally retired this summer after an unrivalled 25-year career, Maldini will go down in the history books as one of the greatest players of all time, and certainly the greatest left back. For Italy, Maldini won 126 caps, a number that has just recently been equalled by Cannavaro. The Milan legend played just two tournaments during the noughties before retiring from internationals – Euro 2000 and World Cup 2002. In the former, he played as an unorthodox left wing-back, and came so close to captaining his side to glory. Two years later, Maldini’s Italy career ended on a low, as he was outjumped by Ahn Jung Hwan for the hosts’ winning goal during one of Calcio’s darkest hours. Maldini resisted calls from Marcello Lippi to play at World Cup 2006, and thus missed out on the one big prize that eluded him during his career.





Fabio Grosso (2003- )

A late bloomer, Grosso was still at modest Palermo when the 2006 World Cup arrived, but went on to be the Azzurri’s unlikely hero in Germany. The full back won the hotly-disputed last minute penalty in the second round win over Australia, scored the famous and decisive 118th minute curler in the semi-final epic against hosts Germany, before slotting home the winning spot-kick in the final shootout victory against France. In the proceeding three years, Grosso has been the Italy regular at left back, and has rarely played a bad game, being one of his country’s best performers both at Euro 2008 and the 2009 Confederations Cup.





Andrea Pirlo (2002- )

The best deep-lying playmaker of the decade, it is testament to Pirlo’s outstanding ability that he excelled during a physical, athletic era that did not really suit his style of play. Despite starring for Milan since at least 2002, Pirlo did not actually become an Italy regular until Marcello Lippi took charge, as Giovanni Trapattoni bizarrely preferred Cristiano Zanetti and Simone Perrotta at the ill-fated Euro 2004. Pirlo would be a major protagonist, though, in Germany two years later, scoring Italy’s first goal in the opener against Ghana, and supplying three assists during the tournament, including the one in the final for Marco Materazzi. Also played well at Euro 2008, and many people cite his suspension against Spain as a reason for Italy’s quarter final exit. A masterful passer of the ball, with the ability to create chances and spot through passes that most others did not know existed.





Rino Gattuso (2000- )

The perfect partner for Pirlo for both Milan and Italy, while the former Brescia star was the creator, Gattuso was the destroyer. Ringhio was the pit-bull of the Azzurri midfield, and a crucial element of the 2006 World Cup success, charging around the pitch with fire in his belly, and closing down opponents. Italy have very rarely possessed a British-type bulldog like Gattuso over the years, and he became a real favourite with tifosi due to his never-say-die attitude, grit, and determination to die for the cause. Although his legs have perhaps started to go during the past 18 months, culminating in an under-par Euro 2008, Gattuso’s influence on Italy this decade cannot be underestimated, and he will forever be remembered for his passionate ‘slap’ on Marcello Lippi in the third group game win over Czech Republic in Germany.





Francesco Totti (1998-2006)

The idea that Francesco Totti always disappointed for his country is one of Calcio’s darkest myths. At Euro 2000, the Roma idol was some people’s Player of the Tournament. Totti scored twice, also chipping his famous ‘spoon-kick’ in the semi shootout win over hosts Holland. In the final itself, which Italy lost dramatically, Totti was the undoubted man-of-the-match, executing a genius backheel in the build-up to Marco Delvecchio’s opener. At the 2002 World Cup he provided numerous assists for goals that both stood and were wrongly disallowed before being incorrectly sent off against South Korea. A half-fit Totti still provided more assists than anyone else as Italy won the 2006 World Cup, also executing a crucial last-gasp second round penalty against Australia, although he blotched his copybook by spitting at Denmark’s Christian Poulsen at Euro 2004.





Christian Vieri (1997-2005)

Standing at well over six feet, Vieri combined height and aerial expertise, with a devastating mix of pace, power, and a crushing left foot. During his peak from the late 1990s up until 2003, excluding an injured Ronaldo, Vieri was probably the best striker in the world. A bully of a frontman who scared the living daylights out of defenders, Vieri added four goals at World Cup 2002 to the five he registered four years earlier in France. His career took a downturn after 2004, playing poorly at that year’s Euros, and then missing the 2006 World Cup with injury. Despite this, Italy have never really replaced him, and as we speak there is no world class Azzurri forward in his mould.





Pippo Inzaghi (1997-2007)

The day that Pippo Inzaghi retires will be a sad one for Calcio. SuperPippo may have no skill, technique, strength or blistering pace, but he is a true genius of a penalty box striker. It is debatable if there has ever been an attacker with better movement, anticipation and instincts than Inzaghi (perhaps only Gerd Muller). A prolific goalscorer for every team he has ever played for, even more so when you consider he took no free kicks and few penalties, Inzaghi struck 25 times in just 57 appearances for La Nazionale, fifth in the all-time list. He excelled at Euro 2000, scoring twice. At World Cup 2002 he had a number of strikes wrongly disallowed for non-existent offside positions, while he made just one substitute appearance at Germany 2006 against the Czechs, and of course he scored. A legend.







Buffon

Cannavaro – Nesta – Maldini

Zambrotta Grosso

Gattuso – Pirlo

Totti

Inzaghi – Vieri



Do you agree with those who made it into the Azzurri Team of the Decade 2000-2010? What would be your XI? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think...

Carlo Garganese, Goal.com

Juventus Director Confirms Interest In Barcelona Defender Martin Caceres
Bianconeri CEO Blanc says Juve hope to sign the Uruguayan on loan, but insists Grosso is not on their shopping list.
20 Jul 2009 07:54:23
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Jose Martin Caceres - Barcelona
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Press reports are suggesting that Juventus have targeted Barcelona central defender Martin Caceres, and Old Lady chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc admits the 22-year-old is indeed the right man to bolster their rearguard.

“We are considering the possibility of bringing in Caceres on loan from Barcelona,” Blanc told Tuttosport.

“He is a very good player, he’s young, strong and full of energy. He would be useful to complete our squad.”

Juve have also been strongly linked with a swoop for Lyon and Italy left-back Fabio Grosso in recent weeks.

“I will try and be honest: we are not interested in Grosso,” said the Frenchman.

“I don’t even know how much he would cost, because I have never thought about calling [Lyon president Jean-Michel] Aulas to ask him.

“But he certainly has a price because he has a running contract and is not a free agent like [Fabio] Cannavaro was.

“I don’t think that buying a 32-year-old would be a good investment. I will hold on tight to my [Cristian] Molinaro and [Paolo] De Ceglie.”

Vince Masiello, Goal.com

why post info that has nothing to do with Milan at all?

That "Italy Team of the Decade" is extremely strong with an impeccable defense.

Originally Posted by vivardo

That "Italy Team of the Decade" is extremely strong with an impeccable defense.

5 Milan players, 7 if you count Vieri and Zambrotta. Pretty damn good if you ask me.

Yep, and 5 of them still plays for Milan.

Originally Posted by Tony75

why post info that has nothing to do with Milan at all?

WHat!? Are you crazy?

Juve and Inter are what we call COMPETITION.....

We need to know what their activites are as much as our own.... I can't believe you would state something so foolish (no offense intended)!

If you say that, then why have we been eagerly discussing Inter and the Ibra saga? Now you should see your mistake.... We must keep our enemies close!

Who has any highlights from yesterdays game?I can only find a small one on youtube from mediaset but the image isnt good

Originally Posted by Gabriel489

Yep, and 5 of them still plays for Milan.

Which kind of shows how great we once were....

IMO the Fabiano chase is over.... Next time we chase someone, we better have the right finances organised or don't go at all.... Its might seem exciting when we are linked wihth everyone, but when a transfer fails over the fuss of 5 million or so, it makes Milan look like a bunch of clowns, and embarrases us supporters!
Just read an article where Cissoko absolutely slammed our club, and it is also mentioned that Fabiano sarcastically thanked our MGT "for taking him for a ride" if you understand the meaning of his comments!

In fact, MGt has taken us all on a short joyride that delivered nothing this transfer season. It would make me feel much better if we chased no one instead of embarrasing ourselves like this to the football world. For Christ sake, we are Milan not some middle table average club! At the moment, our ambitions are sorely greater than our capabilities....

At least Ronaldinho is really stepping up his game and is playing with great enthusiasm and energy,his performance against LA Galaxy was impressive,he gave some great passes to the strikers,he really looks like he is back.

Originally Posted by Dutchie-Milan

At least Ronaldinho is really stepping up his game and is playing with great enthusiasm and energy,his performance against LA Galaxy was impressive,he gave some great passes to the strikers,he really looks like he is back.

U ahve my doubts about Boriello though..... By the way, leo speaks english very well!

I have doubts about Boriello and what he can do for us.... For me he is simply just another option. b the way, leo speaks fluent english....

Sevilla Ace Luis Fabiano’s Agent Slams Milan
The Brazilian’s representative claims the Rossoneri don’t really want his client and is pessimistic anout the chances of a deal going though...
20 Jul 2009 11:22:55
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Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano looks rather chuffed atfer bagging a hat-trick for his side in the 4-0 win over Ponferradina in the Copa del Rey (Marca)
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Negotiations between Milan and Sevilla over Brazil international forward Luis Fabiano stalled last week after the Rossoneri refused to meet the Rojiblancos’ demands.

The Spaniards are reportedly holding out for €20 million, but Milan are unwilling to go beyond their initial offer of €14m.

“I am pessimistic,” agent Jose Fuentes told Calciomercato.it. this morning.

“Milan have offered €14m, but that’s not enough to buy the striker of the Brazilian national team. €14m is a fee that depreciates the player. It can’t be done, Sevilla can’t do it and have all the reasons not to do it.

“We will wait to see if Milan make a new offer for Fabiano, but if they don’t, it’s clear that the Rossoneri are not really interested in signing him.

“We are not angry, we are disappointed. Life goes on, but we are disappointed because we were keen on going to play for Milan. Milan had said they wanted him, Luis had told the entire world he wanted to join Milan and now he will probably not go to Milan, because they don’t want to up their offer.

“I was optimistic last week, but I am not anymore. My personal opinion is that the right price for Fabiano is €20m. I’m not saying that’s the price, but considering what is going on in the transfer market, €20m is the right price.”

Press rumours claimed yesterday that Milan could turn to Roma striker Mirko Vucinic if they fail to land Fabiano.

Vince Masiello, Goal.com