Adebayor Talks Up Milan Move

Emmanuel Adebayor is ready to forget his promise to stay at Arsenal next season and push for a big-money move to AC Milan.

On Friday afternoon the Togo striker, who scored 30 times for the Gunners last season, pledged his future to the Barclays Premier League club, insisting: "I have three more years (on my) contract so no matter what I have to stay. I'm staying at Arsenal."

But just minutes afterwards, in a briefing with the written press in Vienna, Adebayor once again hinted strongly that he would demand a transfer to the San Siro in showdown talks with manager Arsene Wenger next week.

"I had a dream of playing for Arsenal, and Arsenal are one of the loveliest clubs in the world," he said.

"When I go back to Africa it is obvious that a lot of people love the club. But now I have a chance of playing with one of the biggest clubs in the world."

Adebayor added: "I haven't had a chance to speak to the manager yet. But we will sit down next week and decide what is good for my career.

"We will have to meet with the manager before anything can be decided. But, as you know better than anyone, a lot of teams want me to play for them.

"It will not be a difficult decision. I'm just going to sit down with my agent and with my family and decide what is good for my career."

Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf believes Adebayor has already made up his mind.

He told Setanta Sports News: "When I spoke with him I said 'I'm waiting for you'. Let's see what will happen.

"He already said he would come, but it depends now on Arsenal.

"If he leaves Arsenal, it's a done deal. He comes to Milan."

Whatever the outcome, Adebayor insists money would never be a motivating factor if he were to move clubs.

Arsenal would stand to make a substantial profit if they were to sell the striker, and Adebayor himself would also expect to see his wages increase.

However, the former Monaco striker said: "When I was young I had a dream to be a good footballer and play for a big team.

"I was born in Togo so I never cared about playing for money, my happiness was to play to enjoy myself. That's what I've been doing until now.

"You can see people changing clubs because of money, because they want a change of atmosphere or to get their names in the big leagues. I just play football to enjoy myself. I play because I love it."

DOMINO EFFECT (Galliani transfer isuues declaration)

"Adebayor? It depends on Arsenal. If Arsenal don't let him go, Adebayor still has two years on his contract, but if they ask huge amounts for him it's over. Otherwise it's not over, but nothing's for sure yet. Morabito is right when he says that Milan are after Adebayor and no one else at the moment, it's true, but that doesn't mean it stays like that until september 1st, the last day of the transfer window. But it remains to be seen what happens in this ballet of strikers, Eto'o, Ronaldinho, Adebayor, Drogba, how they will move because sometimes there's a domino effect and sometimes there isn't.

I think the fans should be grateful not to the fan Galliani, but to President Berlusconi who, through his Fininvest company, continues to pour money into this club. He's been doing that for 22 years and he transformed a club who was on trial and relegated twice to Serie B in the 80s, into the most title-winning club in the world."

acmilan.com

Ronaldinho dreaming of Milan

MANCHESTER City’s hopes of signing Ronaldinho have taken a blow with his agent claiming the Brazilian star wants to join AC Milan. Blues owner Thaksin Shinawatra has made the Barcelona playmaker his number one priority and has been tracking him all summer. City are prepared to make him the highest paid player in the world, offering as much as £180,000 a week to lure him to Eastlands. Milan have baulked at such figures, but it seems Ronaldinho’s heart is still set on a move to Serie A. His agent Roberto De Assis said: "We are working to take the best player in the world to the greatest club in the world. "We have always had an excellent rapport with Milan and are in constant contact. "The chances of Ronaldinho playing with a Rossoneri jersey this coming season remain the same as they were a few months ago." Ronaldinho looks certain to leave Barcelona this summer with new manager Josep Guardiola telling him he is surplus to requirements. City appear to be the only club willing to meet his financial demands, with Milan turning their attention to Arsenal’s Emanuel Adebayor. It remains to be seen if the 28-year-old is prepared to lower his financial expectations to secure his dream move or opt for a more lucrative move to City.

AC Milan fans 'angry' over Didier Drogba link

The president of AC Milan, Adriano Galliani, has claimed that talks with Drogba are already at an advanced stage, suggesting that AC Milan's coach, Carlo Ancelotti, was keen on signing the 30-year-old.
Milan man? Both AC and Inter would like Chelsea's Didier Drogba to join their squads next season

According to the Daily Express newspaper, fans on AC Milan internet forums have expressed their displeasure at the suggestion, with one apparently writing: "Milan have a fair play team and we don't need a diver."

The report says that fans are "besieging" websites, saying that Drogba was unwanted at AC Milan.

Drogba has regularly been linked to both the Milan-based Serie A sides, and has stated his desire to play for one of the two pedigree Italian teams.

However, with Jose Mourinho's appointment to Inter Milan confirmed this week, it appeared that Inter would have the advantage when it came to signing the Ivory Coast international. 

Drogba is known to be close to the former Chelsea manager and was highly vocal in expressing his desire to move shortly after Mourinho's departure from Stamford Bridge.

AC Milan's statement about Drogba has been construed in some quarters as a deliberate challenge to the Portuguese manager as he begins his new role at their big local rivals.

Whatever the truth, it seems increasingly likely that Drogba will soon be swapping his current London club for a Milan side.

Sheva? It Depends On Him - Galliani

According to some rumours, Andriy Shevchenko was already on the verge of becoming a Milan player again. But it seems the chances of seeing the Chelsea striker back in a red and black shirt are more remote than expected.

The player himself is keeping his lips sealed on the matter. A lot also depends on who Chelsea appoint as their new manager after the sacking of Avram Grant. On their part, Milan seem to have a lot of other issues to worry about before they can start making serious plans to bring back their "lost son".

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani had this to say on the matter: "Shevchenko? I don't know. It depends on him... We often talk with Chelsea, but there is no news on Sheva."



Between 1999 and 2006, Shevchenko wrote himself into the Milan history books by winning the Golden Ball, scoring 127 goals along the way, and picking up a host of national and international trophies with the Rossoneri.

Galliani Confirms Gourcuff - Bordeaux Loan (not official)

The Rossoneri signed the Frenchman from Rennes in 2006 but since then he has only made 37 appearances as he has largely been kept out of the side by Kaka.

Galliani has now confirmed that the attacking midfielder will be sent out on loan Bordeaux to allow him more first team football.

“Nothing is official just yet but Gourcuff will return to Ligue 1 on loan with Bordeaux,” Galliani told Corriere Dello Sport.

Bordeaux president, Jean Luis Triaud, also confirmed that the deal for Gourcuff is at an advanced stage but not yet concrete.

“The loan deal with an option to buy is at an advanced stage but we have not yet been able to make it official,” said the Frenchman.

The 22-year-old will now be hoping he can put his dismal two years with Milan behind him as he looks to impress in France.

Bordeaux will be playing Champions League football next term and Gourcuff will have the chance to shine amongst Europe’s elite.

ZAMBROTTA IS MILAN'S!

MILAN - Official! Gianluca Zambrotta is a new Milan player.

Born in Como on 19 February 1977, the new Milan full back started out playing in his home city. Initially employed as a winger, Zambrotta made his professional debut at age 17, with Calcio Como, where he played for three seasons, from 1994 to 1997, in Serie B and C1.

His Serie A debut came on 31 August 1997, after his passage to Bari, against Parma. His stay in Apulia lasted for two seasons, during which Zambrotta made 59 appearences and scored 6 goals.

Then, in '99, his passage to Juventus: there Juventus experimented playing him as a left back and it turned out to be a winning bet, as Zambrotta grew to become one of the best players in the world in that role. With the Bianconeri he played for seven seasons.
In the summer of 2006, after the chaos of 'Calciopoli', he leaves Italy and joins Frank Rijkaard's Barcelona. The Blaugrana's coach employed him mostly as a right back. With the Spaniards Zambrotta played a total of 58 games, scoring 3 goals.

A regular starter for the Azzurri, with Italy Zambrotta has made 71 appearences, scoring twice. The debut came on 10 February 1999 in Italy-Norway 0-0. Zambrotta participated to the World Cups of 2002 and 2006, and the Euros of 2000 and 2004.

In 2006 he was crowned world champion in Germany. With him, 5 Milanisti: Gattuso, Pirlo, Inzaghi, Nesta and Gilardino, plus Oddo who would become a Rossonero after a few months. His contribution to the World Cup was fundamental, and Fifa elected him as one of the best player in the tournament. He also scored a goal in the quarter final against Ukraine (3-0), and provided the assist for the third goal by Toni. Also memorable was his shot that hit the crossbar in the semifinal against Germany. Aside from the victory, he also received a special honor: the honorary presidency of Como Calcio.

In his personal trophy cabinet, he can boast: with Juve, the Scudettos of 2002 and 2003 (as well as those of 2005, revoked by the sports justice, and of 2006, later assigned to Inter), and two Italian Supercups (2002 and 2003): with the Bianconeri he also lost the Champions League in Manchester against Milan in 2003; with Barcelona he won one Spanish Supercup. And, obviously, the World Cup, with the national team.

At the moment, Gianluca Zambrotta is preparing to face the European adventure in Austria and Switzerland with the Azzurri shirt.

acmilan.com