Summer Mercato 2010

Here's the news for today:

Sevilla's Adriano: I want to play in Italy -- for Milan in particular.
http://www.milannews.it/?action=read&idnotizia=26711

Adriano officially signs for Roma

Huntelaar: I want to stay in Milan [even though I prefer to quit football and play ballet]

Milan drops interest in Luiz and focuses on Garay

Milan linked with Giuseppe Rossi

and last but not least, there's alot of rumours that Milan have wrapped up the Otamendi transfer for 10 million euro (some sources say dollar). Even if this was official, I would not believe we splash 10m euro on a single player, especially as he is not one of the positions we need badly (attacking fullback, creative midfielder, attacker). I hear that Otamendi can play in all back four positions but he is quite bad offensively and is pretty good as a CB. I dont have a clue whether he has an EU passport or not, but if he doesn't then that would be another Non-EU not spent wisely.

Interesting fact about Otamendi...

He was also called to play the World Cup qualifying matches against Colombia and Ecuador, and played as a central defender along Martín Demichelis in the second match. He also started in the game against Brazil, were he played along Sebastián Domínguez, his teammate in Vélez. His third start with Argentina during the World Cup qualification was in the final match, against Uruguay, where he played as a right winger.

There was talk on italian forums about Galliani helping Perez to sign Luiz as Milan cannot pay for him and Milan will get Garay, I reported it in here 10 days ago or so.

D. Luiz is a solution that is perfect for us. Forza Fester, hala Madrid!

Originally Posted by Siregar

Sorry if this is already asked: Does he have EU-pass?

As far as I know no, but don't hold me to that.

Maybe with Otamendi playing cb with Nesta, then Silva can cover rb (not always) with could give us more options to att.

Originally Posted by Tony75

Maybe with Otamendi playing cb with Nesta, then Silva can cover rb (not always) with could give us more options to att.

Braziliero doesn't rate Otamendi really high, but a lot of sources say he has some talent and could be promising ...

So if this guy comes, that means that our defence department would be:
- LB: Antonini, Zambrotta, Yepes
- RB: Abate, Zambrotta, Bonera
- CD: T.Silva, Nesta, Otamendi, Onyewu, Yepes, Bonera

Depending on the level of Otamendi, it's better than what we had this season ...

But I think we should let Bonera or Zambrotta go (my first choice would be to let Bonera leave) to buy a RB and use Abate as second choice there. Then our defence would be fixed, and we would "just" have to work on all the other areas of our team ...

I don't count Oddo and Kaladze as I think they won't be here at the start of next season. Favalli is already gone.

I would assume that Otamendi is a pretty good player, considering that he's in Argentina's squad for the World Cup.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeUX0TC9Srw

He does look like a quality central defender, if you ask me. If Galliani has proper ambitions for the team, he would be a very good signing, as considering the signing of Mario Yepes as well we'd have reliable back-ups for both Nesta (who can't be expected to play twice a week at his age) and Silva.

Remember that even though we had the second tightest defense in the league last year, we were mauled in the big games because particularly Inter and Man Utd had the quality to expose our defensive weaknesses. If Otamendi comes and we get rid of Janku and Oddo and sign two fullbacks and a midfielder or two, we suddenly have a very strong team for next season (which is what Galliani promised us - a team that can challenge for the Scudetto).

This is probably all just wishful thinking though :-/

Originally Posted by Tony75

Maybe with Otamendi playing cb with Nesta, then Silva can cover rb (not always) with could give us more options to att.

It's an option but I still prefer Silva as CB since he is a monster there (and could be better). What I want to see (if Otomendi is really a good CB aka better than Bonera), Silva plays in front of the two CBs. Silva+Pirlo and Hernanez could be great or even better wtih Jucilei+Silva+Hernanez with Pirlo in front of them.

Not nice to wake up while you are not sleeping! Sh1t!

Originally Posted by Reza

As far as I know no, but don't hold me to that.

Thanks.

According to FIFA's website, he is only 171 cm. Very short for a CB.

From youtube link provided by devoted_dm (thanks), it seems that he likes sliding-tackles much (even I am not sure if it was him). He could be a good defender but lost by Fabiano with advantage on Otomendi (because he still was ahead of Fabiano) is not good. Ok, many defenders could face similar but those defenders are decent defenders.

Haven't seen Otamendi, but as far as I know he's expected to be Argentina's RB at the WC, which suggests he's very versitile. Don't really give much to the fact that Maradona has faith in him, this is the guy that managed to play Martín Palermo @ 35 infront of Aguero, Tevez, Milito etc.

He's apparently highly rated though, and a player that can play FB and CB is exactly what we need.

While Maradonna has some odd choices, to say the least, he's also the reason they got into the World Cup in the first place. I don't understand how Cambiasso or Zanetti aren't in the squad, but as far as Otamendi goes, I think the concern is less about the money or his quality, but about the non-EU spot that he takes up.

Watching Ganso and Jucilei, it is abundantly clear that there is quite a bit of talent in both of those players. However, if reports are to be believed that 25 million is what Ganso's asking price is, that is ridiculous. If Ganso would cost 25 million, I would rather put that money in a whole host of other players.

Frankly, I don't understand how Juve are actually contemplating getting rid of Diego. As if he was their problem. The whole team played poorly. I would take Diego from Juve in a heart-beat. Give him to us on loan, option to buy at 15 million. Of course, there's also Giovinco who is a player worth a try.

Of course, without knowing what Allegri wants, I don't know how we can speculate. The market isn't ending any time soon, and few players will be moving while they are at the world cup.

Here's something interesting to think about: D'Agostino just got sent over to Fiorentina (on co-ownership) and he plays in a similar role to Zanetti and Montolivo. With Pirlo's injury and now Montolivo's "audition" for the position, it would not surprise me to see him come to us now, otherwise, D'Agostino's transfer seems a little odd when Zanetti, Donadel, and Bolatti are all vying for a central midfield place, while Vargas, Marcionni, Ljajic, Santana, and Jovetic taking the attacking midfield/winger places.

Personally, I would be 100% behind Montolivo coming to Milan. I think its the right time for him to transfer, both because Fiorentina are out of the CL and that Montolivo seems to be ready for that next jump. Of course, we'll really find out during the WC how he adjusts to the pressure, but, seeing him this season with Fiorentina, I think that he has shown that he's ready.

Otamendi and Montolivo would be two good additions, though, I'd rather someone else than Otamendi and save the non-EU for Jucilei or better yet, Dzeko.

Originally Posted by Samaldinho

While Maradonna has some odd choices, to say the least, he's also the reason they got into the World Cup in the first place...

Disagree, I believe any good coach would take this Argentina safely to World Cup... Maradona did quite well with his choices to unimpress much of the football world... I mean, not bringing Zanetti and especially Cambiaso to Africa is a crime

If Maradona didn't bring Cambiaso or Zanetti to Africa, the reason is he chose Mascherano as his captain and anchor man, IMHO.

He said that he builds the team not only for WC, but also other competitions after that like Coppa America.

Yes, he used Palermo over many great & young forwards, but except for Kun Aguero, they did not perform well, especially Messi. Even Palermo had a "hat-trick" for penalty-misses, he is a top class forward, he deserves another chance, and he paid back. So why question? In recent matches, Maradona used other stirkers like Higuain, Tevez, Millito and of course Messi, not him.

Veron is old, but his position requires experience, Riquelme is too slow and they still have Pastore, haven't they?

Maradona is crazy, his choices are weird, but he did, is doing and will do the best for his country. There's no question about that. The images of him wavering his shirt in locker-room after winning the WC1986, his tear in final 1990 or his joy after scoring the goal against Greece in WC1994 are unforgetable for me, but those are also the history.

Yes, I'm a fan of Diego Maradona (and Paolo Maldini). Leave alone his lifestlye, I really admire his spirit.

A good coach can bring Argentina to WC, and only so, but Maradona is something different.

Well, WC is coming, the transfer rumours around Milan are getting crazy. However, there are some hopes.

If we have both Otamendi and Ganso for next season?

Originally Posted by devoted_dm

I would assume that Otamendi is a pretty good player, considering that he's in Argentina's squad for the World Cup.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeUX0TC9Srw

He does look like a quality central defender, if you ask me. If Galliani has proper ambitions for the team, he would be a very good signing, as considering the signing of Mario Yepes as well we'd have reliable back-ups for both Nesta (who can't be expected to play twice a week at his age) and Silva.

Remember that even though we had the second tightest defense in the league last year, we were mauled in the big games because particularly Inter and Man Utd had the quality to expose our defensive weaknesses. If Otamendi comes and we get rid of Janku and Oddo and sign two fullbacks and a midfielder or two, we suddenly have a very strong team for next season (which is what Galliani promised us - a team that can challenge for the Scudetto).

This is probably all just wishful thinking though :-/

lol kaka stands out more in that video then who its intended for(otamendi) but anyhow he looks quality id be happy with the transfer

we are linked with many good/decent players in recent days!!
Otamendi
Ganso
G.Rossi
Dzeko
Berbatov (-)
Adriano (sevilla)


Lets pray not all of the rumours are BS.