The Archive

December 2014

AC Milan confirm Torres-Cerci swap!
25.12 || webmaster

Milan have formally announced that talks are “advanced” to exchange Alessio Cerci with Fernando Torres at Atletico Madrid.

The rumours had been circulating for some time that Torres would return to his first club and that Cerci would be loaned back to a Serie A side.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

El Shaarawy: ‘Serenity to score’
25.12 || webmaster

Stephan El Shaarawy admits it's harder to score when in a negative mindset, but affirms that playing for Milan is his dream.

The striker has been struggling for form this season leading to some rumours that the Rossoneri would be open to his sale in a coming transfer window.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Juventus, Milan target French midfielder
24.12 || webmaster

Angers midfielder Sofiane Boufal is a target for both Juventus and Milan, according to the player’s agent.

Boufal plays in Ligue 2, the French second division, and is of both French and Moroccan descent. The 21-year-old has enjoyed a breakout season for Angers, and the player’s agent says there is a lot of interest in his client.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

‘No contact for Torres but…’
24.12 || webmaster

The President of Atletico Madrid insists there has been no contact with Chelsea or Milan regarding Fernando Torres - but doesn’t rule out a move.

The Spanish striker is on loan at San Siro from the English Premier League side, with the deal agreed to span two years.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Milan, Inter vie for Cerci?
24.12 || webmaster

Milan and Inter are reportedly locked in a transfer battle for Atletico Madrid’s Alessio Cerci.

The attacker only joined the Spanish club in the summer, moving from Torino for a fee in the region of €15m, but has failed to settle in Madrid, failing to make a single start for Diego Simeone’s men.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Torres set for Atletico return?
24.12 || webmaster

Fernando Torres is reportedly set for a return to Atletico Madrid in January, as Milan look to offload the misfiring forward.

The Spanish striker joined the Rossoneri in the summer on a two-year loan deal from Chelsea, but has failed to make an impact, scoring just one goal, a header against Empoli in September.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

AC Milan broker Torres-Cerci swap?
24.12 || webmaster

Inter confirmed their interest in Alessio Cerci, but it’s reported Milan will offer Fernando Torres to Atletico Madrid in exchange.

This weekend Roberto Mancini confessed that Cerci was “a primary objective” for the Nerazzurri.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Galliani: 'AC Milan challenge big clubs'
22.12 || webmaster

Adriano Galliani believes Milan have turned a corner this season. “We used to always lose against the big clubs.”

The Rossoneri beat Napoli 2-0 and held out for a point away to second-placed Roma on Saturday night.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Crucial transfer window ahead for AC Milan
22.12 || webmaster

Much of the transfer window talk relating to Milan has focused on players who might be on their way out of the club. Fernando Torres, Stephen El Shaarawy and Michael Essien have all been mooted as January departures but if Pippo Inzaghi is to maintain the Rossoneri’s Champions League challenge, additions are going to be required over the next few weeks.

Required but not guaranteed. Reports from Italy suggest there is a substantial hole in Milan’s budget, which would mean any shopping the club do will be targeted at the bargain bin - generally not a strategy conducive to realising ambition. That is the situation in which Milan find themselves, though, and they have to make the best of it.

Liverpool youngster Suso generally fits in that group. The Spaniard has struggled to make the grade at Anfield, racking up little more than 20 first team appearances, and didn’t set La Liga alight during a loan spell at Almeria, but has been linked regularly with a move to San Siro. He has though spent the last few weeks on the sidelines, with only one League Cup appearance this season. But with his contract expiring this summer, Suso fits the bill.

Matija Nastasic is in a similar position at Manchester City. The 21-year-old centre-back is on the fringes of Manuel Pellegrini’s squad and has played more times for Serbia this season than his club, his only City appearance coming in the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal. Nastasic does at least know Serie A from his year at Fiorentina, featuring 26 times for La Viola in 2011-12 before moving to the Premier League. A return could be best for the player and give Milan another option in defence too.

The theme of Serie A returns fits for Alessio Cerci too. The former Torino forward hasn’t been able to break into the Atletico Madrid side on a regular basis and could come back to the peninsula at the first opportunity. Milan are one of a number of clubs said to be ready to welcome to Italy international but the transfer could degenerate into a local skirmish, with Inter understood to have mentioned Cerci as a possible target.

Coach Inzaghi nevertheless suggested after the goalless draw with Roma that the team was in good shape and the players’ mindset was going to be as important as anything else in the Champions League hunt. In a competitive division, though, that can only take Milan so far. Jeremy Menez and Keisuke Honda need help getting the goals and the fact Torres is being shopped round Europe confirms he isn’t the answer. Il Diavolo have a month to find the solutions.

If you were manager who would you have in your team? Play Eurofantasyleague.com now and select from Europe’s top leagues.

Mexes: 'I may as well shoot!'
21.12 || webmaster

Philippe Mexes reveals what he was thinking when he took a shot from 41 metres in Milan’s 0-0 draw at Roma.

The centre-back very nearly scored a stunner from 45 yards, but was denied by a Morgan De Sanctis fingertip save.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Inzaghi: 'Immensely proud of Milan'
21.12 || webmaster

Pippo Inzaghi was “immensely proud” of 10-man Milan after a 0-0 draw away to Roma. “We played with heart.”

This is the first 0-0 draw the Rossoneri have played in Serie A since visiting Chievo in November 2013, which was 41 rounds ago.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Serie A: Roma 0:0 AC Milan - match report
21.12 || webmaster

Pablo Armero was sent off and Roma denied a penalty, but 10-man Milan clung on for a 0-0 draw at the Olimpico.

The Giallorossi needed a victory to end 2014 within a point of leaders Juventus, but the Rossoneri had just beaten Napoli 2-0 and were targeting third place. This result sees the Bianconeri open up a three-point gap at the top and Milan do a favour for their ex-Coach Max Allegri.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

El Shaarawy sacrificed for AC Milan debts?
20.12 || webmaster

It’s reported Milan could sell Stephan El Shaarawy to plug a €70m hole in their balance sheet.

The club is struggling financially and their absence from Europe this season will further damage their revenue streams.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Menez: 'I'd be in prison...'
20.12 || webmaster

Jeremy Menez is reviving his career at Milan, but “without football I’d be in prison” and reveals he turned down Manchester United.

The Frenchman is set to face his former club this evening when the Rossoneri visit Roma.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Berlusconi: 'AC Milan stronger than Roma'
20.12 || webmaster

Silvio Berlusconi has paid his weekly visit to Milanello, and has told Milan’s players they are stronger than Roma.

The Rossoneri President makes a habit of visiting the squad every Friday to offer words of encouragement, and today is no different.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Serie A: AC Milan 2:0 Napoli - goals/highlights
15.12 || webmaster

Schone 'ready for a club like AC Milan'
15.12 || webmaster

The agent of Ajax midfielder Lasse Schone confirms he had contacts with Milan, but suggests January may be a bit too early for a move.

Milan are reportedly likely to decrease the size of their squad this January as some of their players will be sold or nearing the end of their contracts.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Sacchi: AC Milan 'fully deserved' win
15.12 || webmaster

Veteran Arrigo Sacchi praises Milan's “excellent team performance” and says that Jérémy Menez is “extraordinary”.

Milan defeated third-place rivals Napoli in a 2-0 win at San Siro on Sunday evening. The victory follows on from President Silvio Berlusconi's pre-game comments on Saturday that the Rossoneri have the potential to qualify for the Champions League next year.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Inzaghi: 'I believe in third'
15.12 || webmaster

Pippo Inzaghi was “very, very proud” of Milan after they swept Napoli aside 2-0 and “I definitely believe in third.”

The Rossoneri put last week’s defeat at Genoa behind them to catch Rafa Benitez’s side in joint sixth place, just two points adrift of third position.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Menez: 'Inzaghi has faith in me'
15.12 || webmaster

Jeremy Menez thanked Pippo Inzaghi for putting faith in him after Milan beat Napoli 2-0 with his personal best.

“I feel good, have a great team that helps me out, so it allows me to play with a clear head,” the French forward told Sky Sport Italia after his eighth goal of the season.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Serie A: AC Milan 2:0 Napoli - match report
15.12 || webmaster

Scorers: Menez 6 (M), Bonaventura 53 (M)

Jeremy Menez and Jack Bonaventura exposed defensive frailties as Milan won 2-0 and caught Napoli in sixth place.

This result allows the Rossoneri to match their opponents on 24 points and climb into joint sixth position, just two points off the cluster of Genoa, Sampdoria and Lazio in third.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

AC Milan to cancel Torres loan?
12.12 || webmaster

Speculation in Britain is that Milan are seeking to end Fernando Torres’ two-year loan from Chelsea after just six months.

The Spaniard has struggled for form since joining the Rossoneri in the summer, netting just once, with a problematic ankle injury cited as the reason.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Inzaghi: 'We will be great again'
12.12 || webmaster

Milan Coach Filippo Inzaghi may ‘not have a magic wand’ but believes the Rossoneri can improve with ‘patience’.

Super Pippo has been struggling for consistency with his team in recent weeks, but when asked about Fernando Torres and his state of form, he chose not to dwell on the striker's alleged bad moment.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Abbiati: 'Napoli won't defend'
12.12 || webmaster

Milan’s Christian Abbiati looks ahead to the visit of Napoli, warning that Rafa Benitez’s men ‘won’t come to defend’.

The Rossoneri welcome the Partenopei on Sunday night with the opportunity to go level on points with their southern rivals with a win.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

New AC Milan stadium by 2019?
12.12 || webmaster

Milan joint-CEO Barbara Berlusconi is apparently progressing with plans for the club’s new stadium, which Emirates will reportedly name.

The Rossoneri announced earlier this month the intention to have their new property stadium built by 2020.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Nesta: 'AC Milan must aim for third'
12.12 || webmaster

Milan veteran Alessandro Nesta claims his old team can qualify for the Champions League, even though quality ‘has come down a lot’.

The Rossoneri are currently joint seventh in Serie A, five points behind Genoa in the third and final qualification spot for the competition.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Galliani's face to face with AC Milan
8.12 || webmaster

Milan director Adriano Galliani went into the changing rooms after yesterday's defeat and personally confronted his team.

The Rossoneri were expected to show their mettle against third-place contenders Genoa, but they were defeated 1-0 at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Montolivo: 'Return is a victory'
8.12 || webmaster

Riccardo Montolivo relished his first start in over six months, even if Milan lost to Genoa. “We lack consistency.”

The midfielder had been out of action since breaking his leg during Italy’s 0-0 international friendly draw against the Republic of Ireland on May 31.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Inzaghi: 'AC Milan lacking something'
8.12 || webmaster

Pippo Inzaghi confessed Milan are “still lacking something” after their 1-0 defeat to Genoa and welcomed back Riccardo Montolivo.

The Rossoneri were beaten at Marassi by a Luca Antonelli header, a potentially decisive clash in the race for third.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Serie A: Genoa 1:0 AC Milan - match report
8.12 || webmaster

Scorer: Antonelli 32 (G)

Luca Antonelli gave Genoa a shock 1-0 victory over Milan to go clear in third place, especially as Napoli drew with Empoli today.

Only two points separated the teams in this head-to-head for third place. Both were on good form, Genoa unbeaten in two months and the Rossoneri fresh from a 2-0 victory over Udinese. Fernando Torres was dropped again in favour of Jeremy Menez, while Stephan El Shaarawy faced his former club. It was a special game for Alessandro Matri, who is on loan from Milan and finally rediscovering his talent.

Read the rest on Football Italia.