The Archive

September 2017

AC Milan look for new investors?
29.9 || webmaster

Milan owner Li Yonghong is reportedly on the lookout for new investors to share his financial burden.

According to Reuters, Li is effectively Milan’s only benefactor as “his partners backed out following Beijing’s crackdown on foreign acquisitions, especially in football”.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Beckham reveals AC Milan ‘love’
29.9 || webmaster

David Beckham has tipped Milan to go back to being amongst the world’s elite after professing his ‘love’ for the club.

Beckham enjoyed two loan spells at Milan in 2009 and 2010, and the former England midfielder recounted some of his ‘beautiful memories’ with the Rossoneri.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Cutrone: 'Just a lapse for AC Milan'
29.9 || webmaster

Patrick Cutrone defended Coach Vincenzo Montella after Milan’s last-gasp 3-2 win over Rijeka. “We just let our concentration levels drop.”

The Rossoneri were 2-0 up at San Siro thanks to Andre Silva and Mateo Musacchio, but threw it all away for 2-2 by conceding twice in five minutes.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Europa League: AC Milan 3:2 Rijeka - match report
29.9 || webmaster

Scorers: Andre Silva 14 (M), Musacchio 53 (M), Acosty 84 (R), Elez pen 89 (R), Cutrone 94 (M)

Milan threw away a 2-0 lead against Rijeka with laughable defending, but Patrick Cutrone popped up for a stoppage-time 3-2 victory.

Vincenzo Montella was under pressure after a surprise Serie A defeat to Sampdoria, but won all five Europa League games – including the preliminary rounds – going into this meeting with Croatians Rijeka. There were injury concerns, missing Andrea Conti, Riccardo Montolivo, Luca Antonelli, Davide Calabria, Cristian Zapata and Gustavo Gomez.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Montella unhappy with AC Milan display
24.9 || webmaster

Vincenzo Montella says Milan lacked both determination and quality in their defeat to Sampdoria.

Second half goals by Duvan Zapata and Ricardo Alvarez handed Marco Giampaolo’s team a deserved victory and the Rossoneri their second defeat of the season.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Serie A: Sampdoria 2:0 AC Milan - match report
24.9 || webmaster

Scorers: Duvan Zapata 72 (S), Alvarez 91 (S)

Sampdoria had to wait until late for a 2-0 victory over Milan through Duvan Zapata and Ricky Alvarez, but dominated them at Marassi.

The Rossoneri made the trip without Luca Antonelli, Davide Calabria, Andrea Conti or Riccardo Montolivo, but used Suso in a new role supporting Nikola Kalinic. Cristian Zapata got to mark his cousin and fellow Colombia international Duvan Zapata, but Emiliano Viviano and Dodo were still sidelined.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Bonucci: ‘AC Milan have done nothing yet’
21.9 || webmaster

Leonardo Bonucci was pleased with “three good points” for Milan against Spal but “we’ve done nothing yet”.

The Rossoneri beat the newly-promoted side 2-0 at San Siro last night, to take their tally to four wins from the opening five Serie A games.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Montolivo suffers thigh injury
21.9 || webmaster

Milan have confirmed that midfielder Riccardo Montolivo has sustained a thigh injury.

A statement on the Rossoneri’s official website reads: “AC Milan announce that Riccardo Montolivo underwent tests as planned, which showed a slight injury to the flexors in his right thigh. The player will be monitored for a few days.”

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Abate: Thought about retiring…
21.9 || webmaster

Milan full-back Ignazio Abate admits he thought about retiring after his eye injury and urges young players to look up to “exemplary” Gabriel Paletta.

Abate only returned to fitness over the summer, having taken a blow to his left eye against Sassuolo back in February, but the 30-year-old assured he had “started over”.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Montella: 'Positive AC Milan start'
21.9 || webmaster

Vincenzo Montella discussed the Milan tactics, penalty takers and “a positive start to the season” after their 2-0 win over SPAL.

A pair of spot-kicks from Ricardo Rodriguez and Franck Kessie proved enough to get the three points at San Siro.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Serie A: AC Milan 2:0 SPAL - match report
21.9 || webmaster

Scorers: Rodriguez pen 26 (M), Kessie pen 61 (M)

Penalties from Ricardo Rodriguez and Franck Kessie allowed Milan to send SPAL towards a third straight defeat.

The Rossoneri had won every match this season between Serie A and the Europa League, save for a 4-1 defeat at Lazio. Vincenzo Montella was without Andrea Conti, Riccardo Montolivo and Luca Antonelli, so reshuffled with Hakan Calhanoglu supporting Andre Silva and Nikola Kalinic. SPAL started strong, but then lost two on the bounce, missing Alex Meret, Marios Oikonomou, Sergio Floccari and Luca Rizzo.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Montella: 'AC Milan getting there'
17.9 || webmaster

Vincenzo Montella said Milan are “getting accustomed” to playing as a unit after their 2-1 win over Udinese and explained his choices.

Nikola Kalinic bagged a brace at San Siro, though Kevin Lasagna’s goal kept them on their toes.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Kessie dedicates win to Conti
17.9 || webmaster

Milan’s Franck Kessie has dedicated this afternoon’s 2-1 win over Udinese to the injured Andrea Conti.

23-year-old Conti has been ruled out of action for up to six months after sustaining a knee ligament injury.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Serie A: AC Milan 2:1 Udinese - match report
17.9 || webmaster

Scorers: Kalinic 22, 31 (M), Lasagna 28 (U)

Nikola Kalinic bagged a decisive brace on his first Serie A start for Milan, and had a third disallowed via VAR, to beat Udinese 2-1.

The Rossoneri had won every match this season save for last weekend’s 4-1 humiliation at the hands of Lazio, but were fresh from a 5-1 Europa League victory at Austria Vienna. Andre Silva and Hakan Calhanoglu were rested in favour of Suso in a new forward role and Jack Bonaventura, while Andrea Conti and Luca Antonelli were ruled out. Giuseppe Pezzella was suspended with injured Stipe Perica and Silvan Widmer.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Serie A: AC Milan vs Udinese - line-ups
17.9 || webmaster

Milan: G Donnarumma; Musacchio, Bonucci, Romagnoli; Calabria, Kessie, Biglia, Bonaventura, Rodriguez; Suso; Kalinic

Udinese: Scuffet; Stryger Larsen, Danilo, Nuytinck, Samir; Behrami; Barak, Jankto, Lasagna, De Paul; Maxi Lopez

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Antonelli out for AC Milan too
17.9 || webmaster

Milan are without Luca Antonelli and Andrea Conti for Sunday’s encounter with Udinese.

The Rossoneri were beaten 4-1 by Lazio last week, but got back on track in the Europa League by thrashing Austria Vienna 5-1.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Conti: 'I'll be back stronger'
17.9 || webmaster

Milan full-back Andrea Conti underwent ACL surgery today and sent a message from his hospital bed. “I’ll be back even stronger.”

The former Atalanta player sustained the injury in his left knee during training on Friday.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Montella: 'AC Milan tactics evolving'
17.9 || webmaster

Vincenzo Montella discussed the “evolution” of his Milan tactics and the importance of determination ahead of their meeting with Udinese.

The last week has been stressful for the Rossoneri, who lost 4-1 at Lazio, thrashed Austria Vienna 5-1 in the Europa League and then lost Andrea Conti for four to six months with a torn ACL in training on Friday.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Aleix Vidal in for Conti?
17.9 || webmaster

Milan are looking towards Barcelona outcast Aleix Vidal for January after Andrea Conti was ruled out for six months.

The former Atalanta defender was one of their most important signings over the summer, but tore his anterior cruciate ligament in training yesterday.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Savicevic: ‘Suso like me’
15.9 || webmaster

Dejan Savicevic sees Suso as his Milan heir, and reveals he urged Adriano Galliani to sign Stevan Jovetic.

The former Rossoneri attacking midfielder turns 51 today, and he spoke to the club’s official television channel about the current side.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

OFFICIAL: Conti out for six months
15.9 || webmaster

Milan have confirmed that Andrea Conti faces six months out after damaging knee ligaments.

Conti had been closing in on a return from an ankle problem, but the right-back promptly injured his ACL in training on Friday to rule him out for most of the season.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Andre Silva revels in AC Milan hat-trick
15.9 || webmaster

Andre Silva thanked his teammates after becoming the first Milan player to score a European hat-trick since Kaka in 2006.

The Portuguese striker got the treble in their 5-1 Europa League victory away to Austria Vienna.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Europa League: Austria Vienna 1:5 AC Milan - match report
14.9 || webmaster

Scorers: Calhanoglu 7 (M), Andre Silva 10, 20, 56 (M), Borkovic 47 (A), Suso 63 (M)

Hakan Calhanoglu was inspirational and Andre Silva celebrated a hat-trick as Milan crushed Austria Vienna 5-1 away from home.

The Rossoneri won all four games in the preliminary rounds without conceding to reach the group phase of the Europa League, the only major tournament the club is yet to win. Andrea Conti, Ricardo Rodriguez and Fabio Borini were left behind, but Nikola Kalinic got his first start in a new 3-5-2 system. Austria Vienna are now without a home victory in their last six continental attempts.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Antonelli 'loves' 3-5-2 AC Milan
14.9 || webmaster

Luca Antonelli “absolutely loves” the 3-5-2 system Milan implemented in their 5-1 Europa League win at Austria Vienna.

Andre Silva bagged a hat-trick with Hakan Calhanoglu and Suso also on target.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Montella: 'AC Milan needed that'
14.9 || webmaster

Vincenzo Montella believes a setback “did us good,” as Milan flattened Austria Vienna 5-1. “The hat-trick will boost Andre Silva’s confidence.”

The Rossoneri have won all five of their Europa League games this season, including the preliminary rounds, but this was their first match since the 4-1 Serie A loss at the Olimpico.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Mirabelli: 'How AC Milan shouldn't play'
14.9 || webmaster

Milan director Massimiliano Mirabelli said they “realised how not to play” against Lazio and want to “go all the way” in the Europa League.

“We clearly understood that the type of performance against Lazio was unacceptable, because otherwise we get four slaps and are sent home. At least we realised how not to play,” director of sport Mirabelli told Sky Sport Italia.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Donnarumma family angered by Raiola?
14.9 || webmaster

Gianluigi Donnarumma’s family are reportedly frustrated by the actions of the Milan goalkeeper’s agent, Mino Raiola.

The 18-year-old looked set to the leave the Rossoneri in the summer after his representative clashed with the club, but he eventually put pen to paper on a new contract.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Fassone: ‘AC Milan aiming for top four’
11.9 || webmaster

Milan CEO Marco Fassone reiterates the goal this season is a top four finish - “we’ve always said that”.

The Rossoneri were thrashed 4-1 by Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico yesterday, putting an early dent in hopes of a Scudetto challenge.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

‘AC Milan looked really bad, but…’
11.9 || webmaster

Vincenzo Montella admits Milan “looked really bad” against Lazio but insists their 4-1 defeat was not down to his tactics.

Montella's persistence with a 4-3-3 formation has come under fire following the result, with Hakan Calhanoglu also appearing to suggest he was being played out of position, but the Coach believes the Rossoneri were not strong enough mentally against the Aquile.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Calhanoglu ‘has Montella message’
11.9 || webmaster

Hakan Calhanoglu admits he prefers to play “behind a lone striker or as a wide attacker”, despite starting his Milan career in midfield.

Calhanoglu has been deployed as part of a three-man midfield for Milan since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen over the summer, and CalcioNews24 believes the No 10’s latest remarks to Gazzetta dello Sport were an indirect message to Coach Vincenzo Montella.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Montella ‘not under threat’
11.9 || webmaster

Vincenzo Montella’s position as Milan Coach is reportedly not under any imminent threat.

Calls for Montella to be sacked grew after Milan’s 4-1 defeat to Lazio on Sunday, but according to Gazzetta dello Sport, CEO Marco Fassone quickly reassured him of his job security.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

5 English players who played for AC Milan
11.9 || webmaster

It is perhaps fitting that AC Milan, an as-yet sleeping titan of European football, was founded by English expatriates. Alfred Edwards and Herbert Kilpin, the latter of whom was the first club captain, each shared a common vision. That vision was to create a club like no other, and dominate Italian football for generations and if you take a look at the Serie A outright markets, you will see AC Milan are currently third favourite to win the league this time round.

Soon after formation, the breakaway Inter Milan (or 'Internazionale') was founded out of a desire to draw non-Italian players to the city, while AC Milan remained exclusively Italian. As such, it stands to reason that the growth of AC Milan’s foreign connections over the past century has been decidedly stunted in comparison to Internazionale. Nonetheless, the AC Milan of today can now look back with pride on a list of distinguished foreign alumni, such as Andriy Shevchenko and Marco van Basten. However, only five Englishmen have ever appeared for AC Milan in its 118-year history.

So just how have the ‘Rossoneri’ fared when signing English talents? The first of them needs no introduction in the civilised world...

Jimmy Greaves (1961)

For the benefit of younger readers, especially those not privileged enough to have a football-mad grandparent, Jimmy Greaves was a prototype of Wayne Rooney. At the age of sixteen he was terrorising defences and would become famous for consistently scoring on his debuts, first doing so for Chelsea in 1957. After four years and 124 goals later, he made a high-profile move to AC Milan. Although Greaves appeared just twelve times for the Italian giants, he scored on nine occasions.

In a purely mathematical context, Greaves’ time at AC Milan could be considered a roaring success. Yet, a dozen appearances is never enough to make anyone a club legend, and after being unable to cope with the regime of Nereo Rocco, he returned to England. Now sporting the famous white and navy of Tottenham, Greaves was once again in his element, and would in time become part of the White Hart Lane hall of fame.

Luther Blissett (1983-1984)

According to legend, the staff at AC Milan wanted John Barnes, a Jamaican-born England forward with no apparent equal at that time. However, it was Luther Blissett who instead made the move from Watford to AC Milan in 1983. At that time, the Hornets were fresh off a second placed finish, but the lure of the continent was sufficiently large for Blissett.

Unlike Greaves, Blissett was a certifiable disaster for AC Milan. For Blissett and his manager, scoring an average of once every six games was simply not enough to merit the famous red and black stripes. He was duly shipped back to Watford at a net loss of £500,000.

‘AC Milan must be more compact’
10.9 || webmaster

Milan’s Ricardo Rodriguez says his side must learn to be more compact after a 4-1 defeat at Lazio.

The Rossoneri were totally outclassed by Simone Inzaghi’s team, with Ciro Immobile scoring a hat-trick and Luis Alberto adding a fourth for the home side.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Bonucci: 'AC Milan slap in the face'
10.9 || webmaster

Leonardo Bonucci warned the 4-1 defeat to Lazio represents “a healthy slap in the face” for Milan. “The penalty made us crumble.”

The Rossoneri had won all six competitive games between Serie A and the Europa League, but were humiliated at the Stadio Olimpico this evening.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Montella: 'AC Milan lack mental strength'
10.9 || webmaster

Vincenzo Montella felt Milan “lacked the mental strength to fight back” in a 4-1 defeat to Lazio, but “I’d make these decisions again.”

The Rossoneri had won all six of their competitive games so far this season between Serie A and the Europa League, but capitulated at the first genuinely tough test.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Serie A: Lazio 4:1 AC Milan - match report
10.9 || webmaster

Scorers: Immobile pen 38, 42, 48 (L), Luis Alberto 50 (L), Montolivo 56 (M)

Ciro Immobile scored a hat-trick and set up Luis Alberto as Lazio thrashed Milan 4-1, ending the Rossoneri’s 100 per cent record.

This match was delayed by an hour and almost called off completely due to weather warnings all over the city of Rome, which left the Metro system blocked, roads flooded and two people injured when a tree fell on their car.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Conti has twisted ankle
6.9 || webmaster

Milan have confirmed that Andrea Conti has “a slight twist” to his right ankle, but is “already walking freely and without pain”.

The right-back was injured during Italy’s win over Israel last night, but after initial fears of a sprain it emerged this morning that the knock wasn’t serious.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

AC Milan wait for Sosa decision
6.9 || webmaster

Milan are awaiting a decision from Jose Sosa, who has an offer from Trabzonspor.

It was revealed yesterday that the Turkish club had made a €5.5m bid for the midfielder, who joined from Besiktas last summer.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Conti to miss Lazio
6.9 || webmaster

Andrea Conti’s ankle injury is reportedly not serious, but it’s expected he’ll miss Lazio as a precaution.

The Milan full-back went off injured during Italy’s win over Israel last night, with fears he’d suffered a sprained ankle.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Serie A season tickets up
6.9 || webmaster

Over 30,000 more season tickets have been sold across Serie A this season, with Milan up by 14,000.

According to today’s Gazzetta dello Sport, 282, 683 season tickets have been sold between the 20 Serie A clubs, up from 251,895 last year.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Mirabelli: AC Milan did 95% of business
6.9 || webmaster

Massimiliano Mirabelli claims Milan did “95 percent” of the business they set out to do and vows “we’ll bolster the squad even further.”

Mirabelli helped to bring in 11 players at a cost of over €200m over the summer, his first as Milan’s sporting director, and he believes there is reason for the fans to “dream”.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Turks offer Sosa ‘over €15m’
6.9 || webmaster

Trabzonspor have reportedly prepared a contract worth “over €15m” for Milan midfielder Jose Sosa.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the deal will run for three years and see him pocket a salary of more than €5m.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

‘Strikers will decide AC Milan’s season’
1.9 || webmaster

Former Milan captain Massimo Ambrosini believes the club’s new strikers will decide whether they qualify for the Champions League.

Andre Silva and Nikola Kalinic were brought in over the summer, while youngster Patrick Cutrone emerged as an option, and Ambrosini admitted he was unsure about whether the trio could fire Milan back among Europe’s elite.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Fassone: 'AC Milan spent over €230m'
1.9 || webmaster

Milan CEO Marco Fassone revealed they were tracking Franck Kessie for a year and confirmed they spent €230m.

“Some of the first contacts we had with players who arrived this summer go back to last August. I remember (director of sport Massimiliano) Mirabelli went to see a game last year and he wanted to see Kessie play for Atalanta against Cagliari, so we were watching him for a long time,” explained Fassone on a livestreamed interview.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Report: AC Milan get €15m for Niang
1.9 || webmaster

Milan reportedly got €15m by selling M’Baye Niang to Torino, but they get 25 per cent of any future profit.

The Rossoneri loaned the French forward to the Granata earlier today, with an obligation to buy next summer.

Read the rest on Football Italia.

Official: Simic joins Crotone
1.9 || webmaster

Milan defender Stefan Simic has unexpectedly signed for Crotone at the end of a chaotic transfer deadline day.

The 22-year-old Czech player had been very close to Slavia Prague this morning.

Read the rest on Football Italia.