Winter Mercato

Originally Posted by zlatanov

right on the money.
galliani said what he had to say
I think he is actually prepping the turf to start negotiations for Pato and that's the way to do it - by preparing the other side that you are not some stupid deep-pocketed millionaire they can milk like an idiot for whatever cash sum comes to mind.
And what complicates the negotiations even more is the presence of teams like Inter and Chelski, teams that are a perfect fit for the description I gave above.

Maybe some people were expecting him to say: "Hey Pato is awsome and we'll pay whatever it takes to have him" ... and then go to negotiate and try to drive Pato's price down ... well, those people might also use a minute or two to think things over before they start criticizing

Zlat, you sound like you have no FM experience If a player has a buyout clause (How much did you say it was for Pato? 15mil if I remember correctly?) then the club that wishes to buy him just need to match it. There's no point in offering 25mil when player's club MUST accept the offer with the number in buyout clause.

So Pato is avaliable for 15mil (?) + his salary. Is that too much for a wonderkid
who openly states his desire to join Milan???

Galliani is an idiot.

Originally Posted by Stitch

Zlat, you sound like you have no FM experience If a player has a buyout clause (How much dod you say it was for Pato? 15mil if I remember correctly?) then the club that wishes to buy him just need to match it. There's no point in offering 25mil when player's club MUST accept the offer with the number in buyout clause.

So Pato is avaliable for 15mil (?) + his salary. Is that too much for a wonderkid
who openly states his desire to join Milan???

Galliani is an idiot.

I don't know how true it is but it's been suggested that Pato does not want to enforce the buy-out clause as he wants to help his team get as much as possible for him, as a gesture ... and given that he said that it doesn't matter for him where he would go - Milan, Inter, or CHelski - that might not change at all.
so all in all, I guess, these buy out clauses are provisional and depend on the player's willingness to use it.

So that may very well explain why Chelski and Inter are rumoured to be offering way more than his buy out clause is ... and quite frankly, if one can negotiate down the price of player below the buy-out cluase, why not do it?
Especially if there aren't any concrete/official offers for the player from other clubs as we simply don't know how true those rumours of CHelski and Inter offering 25 mil each are.

ummmm i cant believe im looking at photos of ronaldo in beachwear and i care! LOL

Originally Posted by zlatanov

we'll get to see Buffon's opinion of Ronaldo A LOT, rest assured his dislike for Juve is still the same



I wouldn't trust these pictures too much as Drucurl has obviously vastly improved his PS skills ...and with him providing the link, the picture is crystal clear

When I first opened this thread (from the email notification) I had to go back and check my other internet news sources, to see if we actually had bought someone over the weekend...there were soooo many new pages of posts...and then...nothing...or rather more of the same...

I am relieved though, that we didnt pick up any useless players, though in all honesty, we rarely do that.

Zlatanov=Ronaldinho is one for the record books, as well as Drucurl being fatter than Ronaldo....amazing stuff.

I remain easy though, and relaxed, as I am quite sure we will sign the players we need, and go on to have a very successfull 2K7-8 season.

FORZA MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILAN!!! FORZA GALLIANI & BERLU!

I haven't heard anything about Pato wanting to help his team. That doesn't mean it isn't true, I just don't think it is. For me, there are two explanations for these figures

1) The reported numbers include Pato's salary
2) Made up stories by journalists to sell papers

And since it's hard to believe that a 17 year old could get 2 mil a year for let's say 5 years (reported (25-15)/5), it leaves us with 2)

The only thing Pato has on his side is his age, thats all. When I look at him and talk about what I see I get criticized, fair enough he is young but please he is not the savior of football.

He had a chance last year against Barca to take the credit, he failed and im sure he will have other chances to shine. However in the U20 match he was no where to be seen, so he failed again? Maybe its just me and the games which involve Pato I decide to watch.

Originally Posted by MedellínBandit®

The only thing Pato has on his side is his age, thats all. When I look at him and talk about what I see I get criticized, fair enough he is young but please he is not the savior of football.

He had a chance last year against Barca to take the credit, he failed and im sure he will have other chances to shine. However in the U20 match he was no where to be seen, so he failed again? Maybe its just me and the games which involve Pato I decide to watch.

No, you are not wrong. He is indeed overrated which doesnt mean he isnt good, but theres no need to compare him to Kaka or some other top soccer player.
If he were the exact same player but polish he wouldnt get half the media hype he is receiving.
Moreover, he wasnt even the best foward during the U-20 qualifier for this world cup being played in Canada (Edison Cavani was by far the best).
IMO he is a big gamble, and since Milan work on a budget I dont want to spend 15M on player that wont help for the next 2-3 years.

ADRIANO GALLIANI: "Garantisco al presidente del Real Madrid..."
02/07/2007
MILANO - Commento di Adriano Galliani: "Garantisco al presidente del Real Madrid Ramon Calderon che il prossimo 23 luglio Kakà sarà regolarmente presente a Milanello per iniziare la preparazione assieme ai suoi compagni di squadra; che il 31 agosto, da campione d'Europa, giocherà a Montecarlo la Finale di Super Coppa Europea Milan-Siviglia; che disputerà il Mondiale per Club in Giappone nel prossimo mese di dicembre".
| |

---
acmilan.com

Translation:

I guarantee Presiden Calderon that on July 23 Kaka will be present at Milanello to start preparing with Milan.

Then he lists the tournaments etc.

I've never seen a club this disgusted with another club. I like it that way.

Originally Posted by Tony75

Reasonable and stupid at the same time. We'd rather spend average money on average players than greatly on the players who can take us up a level. managed by morons.

The average players have made us the most successful club in football over the last 5 years and the moronic management has been one of the most successful in football for the past 20 years they've been in charge.

Also, if Pato right now is the player to take us up to the next level, then I want whatever your smoking

To respond to the pics of Ronaldo provided be Dru

RONALDO TRAINING WITH TOGNACCINI IN BRAZIL
7/2/2007
MILAN - Milan fitness coach Daniele Tognaccini arrived in Rio De Janeiro today to start working with Ronaldo. The Brazilian champion will undergo specific pre-preparation work to arrive in top form by the time he meets Milan for the training retreat on July 23. Ronaldo and Tognaccini are training right now. Tognaccini will stay in Brazil for the entire first week of Ronaldo's training

Ronaldo's personalised training hasn't even begun yet, the R99 for next season will still be in much better shape than what we see in the pics.

Originally Posted by Gabriel489

Hello Everyone, I am from HK.

And had been a long time Milan fan, not just someone jumping onto the winning wagon.

Anyhow, I saw a promotion sign about a China's Resort today and it is a resort that will be holding a game with Barcelona FC with the local team. The interesting thing is that on the poster, it features Frank's face, Dinho's face, so has Deco, Messi and Henry, but there is no ETO.

Well, thats sounded quite interesting to me. I know Pugol is not there too, but Pugol is a defender and eventhough he is great but he is not a popular defender like Canna, Nesta or Maldini.

So it just maybe that Eto is leaving Barcelona.

Welcome to MM

Eto’o commits to Barca
Monday 2 July, 2007
Milan target Samuel Eto’o has stated that he will not leave Barcelona despite the rumours linking him with a summer move.

The Rossoneri are keen on netting the Cameroon international and Thierry Henry’s arrival at the Nou Camp has fuelled speculation that the Blaugrana might consider letting the hitman leave.

“Milan President Silvio Berlusconi favours the technical aspects and wants to sign Ronaldinho, whereas Coach Carlo Ancelotti would like to sign me,” Eto’o told Spanish newspaper Marca.

“But you can tell Berlusconi from me, and I think I can also speak on behalf of Ronaldinho, that neither of us are leaving Barcelona,” added the striker.

Eto’o declared that he is pleased to welcome Henry to the team, as he believes his arrival will make the Catalan side even stronger, although no games will be taken for granted.

“I have told Titi that he has joined a great club, but that we are going to be under immense pressure because we cannot afford to lose any matches,” he said.

“It is like that because we have to be the best, but football is not an exact science. We have to show respect for all our opponents,” concluded Eto’o.

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channel 4

I know this sounds crazy, but here's my reasoning:

Eto'o has always unequivocally denied wanting to leave Barcelona. Ronaldinho has not been as emphatic.

I really have a feeling that Ronaldinho is the more likely player to come out of the two. Here are the three main reasons I think this:

1) It has been quiet on his front
2) The soccernet article may have been twisted around, but I don't know if it was to the extent that some believe on here
3) We've been working with Dinho's agent for a year
4) He has always spoken about Milan in glowing terms (unlike Eto'o, who seems irritated anytime his possible exit is mentioned).

I'm not saying Dinho will come, just that he is the more likely of the two to come.

Hasan Rossonero -> the most valuable MM member in last 30 days

Great job Hasan. Very informative. I really enjoy your posts !

Pato has a contract release clause of 15 million euros! That means there is NO bidding war ! Any club that pays out the 15 million euros can offer a contract directly to the player [so the club is not involved in the negociation] - we know that from Football Manager ] - so there is no need to splash 25 mil. euros for that ! IF Chelsea/Milan/Inter other clubs also wish to sign him, they will battle for his signature (higher wage, signing fee, etc) BUT NOT with bids.How about that? Does anyone think that?

Yeah, you can hear it from Eto'o if you go to "www.marca.com", its on the front page.

we've made our summer signings, Ba and Ronaldo!

Originally Posted by Jim_UK

we've made our summer signings, Ba and Ronaldo!

Ronaldo will be the signing of the season