AC Milan Win on TIM TROPHY CUP

TIM TROPHY: JUVENTUS-MILAN 4-6

TURIN - Juventus-Milan finished 4-6 after penalties in the first of three friendlies during the 8th edition of the Tim Trophy. After the first 45 minutes these were the goalscorers: 7' Seedorf (M), 8' Trezeguet (J), 11' Marchionni (J), 42' Seedorf (M). For the Rossoneri the penalties were scored by Kakà, Pirlo, Jankulovski, Paloschi.


CLARENCE SEEDORF: 'It went well'

TURIN - Here are the declarations made by Clarence Seedorf, who scored a brace in the match against Juventus in the 8th edition of the Tim Trophy: "It went well. All teams are doing the preparations for the new season so it's not easy to be physically in shape right away, you need at least 10 minutes. But 4 goals in 45 minutes is a good average."

source : acmilan.com

TIM TROPHY NEWS

TIM TROPHY: FORMATIONS OF JUVENTUS-MILAN

JUVENTUS: Buffon; Grygera, Chiellini, Mellberg, Molinaro; Marchionni, Sissoko, Tiago, Nedved; Trezeguet, Iaquinta.
MILAN: Kalac; Zambrotta, Bonera, Kaladze, Jankulovski; Brocchi, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Seedorf, Kakà; Paloschi.

TROFEO TIM: 22 ROSSONERI PLAYERS CALLED-UP

MILAN - These are the called-up players of Ancelotti, with their respective shirt numbers, for the Trofeo Tim in program tomorrow in Turin: Dida 1, Kalac 16, Abbiati 12, Antonini 77, Bonera 25, Digao 31, Favalli 19, Jankulovski 18, Kaladze 4, Oddo 2, Simic 17, Zambrotta 15, Ambrosini 23, Brocchi 32, Flamini 84, Gattuso 8, Pirlo 21, Strasser 51, Osuji 58, Kakà 22, Paloschi 43, Seedorf 10


TIM TROPHY: TIMES AND MATCHES

MILAN - On Tuesday 29 July at 20.30 the 8th edition of the Tim Trophy will take place at the Olympic stadium of Turin. As usual, Milan, Juventus and Inter will participate to the triangular tournament, with three games of 45 minutes each and penalties in case of a draw in normal time. This is the schedule: Match 1: Milan-Juventus; Match 2: Loser match 1-Inter; Match 3: Winner match 1-Inter.

Pirlo pledges to end career with AC Milan

The 29-year-old rejected the opportunity to move to England or Spain this summer, with reports suggesting Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid had all made inquiries, but he insists he plans to retire wearing the Rossoneri colors.

'I am happy at AC Milan,' said Pirlo. 'I have a long contract and I don't think there is a better team than this one.

'Milan is one of the strongest clubs and I hope to end my career with them.

'I have two years left on my contract and I hope to renew it for many more years.'

Meanwhile, Milan striker Marco Borriello could miss the start of the Serie A campaign because of a knee injury.

Borriello, who has returned to the Rossoneri this summer having played on loan at Genoa last season, suffered the injury in Saturday's training session.

A club statement read: 'Marco Borriello has undergone an MRI (scan) on his right knee.

'The player will travel to Antwerp on Wednesday to see specialist Marc Martens.'

Borriello was in great form for Genoa last season, notching 19 goals to finish as the third top scorer in Serie A, which won him a place in Italy's Euro 2008 squad.

Initial fears are that he will be out of action for at least six weeks, wrecking his chances of making an early impact on his return to Milan.

Coach Report

Ancelotti defines the Trofeo Tim as a `friendly but always motivating´ appointment. He will have Kaka, Seedorf and Paloschi available. Alberto stays with us. The injured players? Problems which can occur.

INJURED PLAYERS AND ATTACKERS

´These are problems which can occur during the pre-season training. I´m just sorry that some player interrupts the preparation. The attack is the department which requires most work to make the mechanisms function.´

´Paloschi will stay with us, we never thought of selling him. Until it will be necessary, he will remain with us. He could even remain with us until the end of the year. His stay to us is not tied to Borriello´s injury.´

TROFEO TIM

´Nesta is not training right now, but he is recovering. The others are quite fine. Starting from Kaka. Ricky is ready and will be readz to play, even both games. With regards to the national team plazers, they could at most play one. For the attack I will have Paloschi, Seedorf and Ricky available. Nesta, Maldini, Inzaghi and Borriello will stay at home.

´Tomorrow´s games are just friendlies, but when you face teams like Juve and Inter thez are never really as such. They are important and motivating games.´

GOALKEEPERS

´Dida is working well, he recovered, he is doing a preparation program to avoid any falls, he could be recovered for the friendly game against Manchester.

´With regards to hierarchies, we shall evaluate at the start of the season.´

DINHO AND THE OLYMPICS

´In reality, seeing and considering that last year he did not play much, it can be useful for him playing at the Olympics to improve his form. Surely, when he arrived at Milanello, he was not at hundred percent, so he will find the best condition. Also, him and Pato never played together. The Games can help them find the right connection.´

PRE-SEASON AND THE CALENDAR

´I didn´t really take much care about the draw and the calendar. From some point of views it´s fine, for others it is a bit complicated. However, surely nothing changes the fact that there is the derby in the fifth matchday.

´The pre-season is not verz different from that of last years, the objective is to be ready for the start of the season.´

MILAN AND SHEVCHENKO

´What I will tell Sheva in Moscow? I will wish him good luck for the season. The rumours about Sampdoria´s interest? I don´t think he wants to return to another Italian team.

´Buffon said that Milan is the favourite team for the Scudetto? If everzone gives their best we could really be so. We must be good enough to get the best out of every player.´

Ronaldinho happy

Ronaldinho scored 70 goals in 145 appearances for Barcelona, helping them win the Spanish championship in 2005 and 2006 as well as the 2006 Champions League.

But after a dip in form last season, attributed by some to his penchant for late-night partying, he was deemed surplus to requirements by the Spanish giants and AC Milan signed him last week for an estimated 30 million dollars.

Olympic coach Dunga, who is also coach of the national team, said the two-time World Player of the Year finally seemed happy.

"Ronaldinho is a very important member of our squad and he is recovering from his problems," he said here, where Brazil are training ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

"The most important thing is that he is happy and is smiling again.

That's made things easier for us.

The 28-year-old is one Dunga's over-age players for the Olympics.

Barcelona had initially refused to release him but AC Milan gave the go-ahead and the Games will provide a global platform for him to once again shine.

At international level he has yet to recover from his anti-climactic performance at the World Cup in Germany in 2006, and since then he has seen new Milan teammate Kaka usurp his position as Brazil's star man.

But 26-year-old Kaka, linked with a move to Chelsea this week, will not be in Beijing after the Italian club refused to release him.

Brazil captured the Olympic silver medal in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, and the bronze medal in the 1996 Games, but has yet to strike gold.

AC Milan: No offers made during talks with Chelsea about Shevchenko for Kaka

MILAN, Italy — AC Milan has held talks with Chelsea about buying Andriy Shevchenko and selling Kaka, but said no offer has been made.

Brazil playmaker Kaka has been linked with a move to the Blues, with his spokesman saying that a "formal proposal" had been made.

But after meeting Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, Milan vice president insisted that Kaka is "happy" at the Italian club.

"The offers for Kaka are only in the newspapers and they make up stories," Galliani told the club website. "Today there are talks of a euro150 million (US$239 million) offer and tomorrow it will be euro200 million ($318 million).

"Nothing is true, neither from Chelsea nor from any other club have we received that kind of offer."

Galliani asked Abramovich about bringing Shevchenko, the Ukraine striker, back to Milan.

"I was on Abramovich's boat," Galliani said. "It's true that he has had me as his guest and that I asked him for Shevchenko and he asked me for Kaka.

"But it finished 0-0 as we told him no for Ricky (Kaka) and they said no for Andriy. In any case there was no mention of numbers."

Ronaldinho picks shirt number “80? at AC Milan

AC Milan’s new signing and superstar Ronaldinho will wear shirt number 80 at AC Milan, the club said on Monday.

The Brazilian football star, twice the world player of the year, chose this number beacause it corresponds with his birth year 1980.

In Barcelona he wore shirt number 10, but that shirt is currently held by Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf. According to Milan’s vice-president Adriano Galliani, it was never discussed that Seedorf would have to give up his shirt to Ronaldinho.

“We’ve never asked a player to give up his number and we won’t do it this time,” said Galliani. “That would show a lack of respect.”

Adidas has revelaed that they have already received 11,000 pre-orders for replica Ronaldinho shirts.

[Source: Aftonbladet, FIFA]

Another Transfer issues????

Rooney in shock AC Milan Move

Reports have emerged that Man Utd and England striker W.Rooney has been targeted by AC Milan. Milan had previously been linked with Adebayor and Drogba, but now they have turned their attention towards Rooney.
The hitman is valued at $30 million and it looks certain that Milan will be bidding on the striker in few days.
However, Ronaldo has had a "U-turn", and will be at in EPL this season.

RONALDINHO: A.C.MILAN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

AC Milan and FC Barcelona have reached an agreement for the transfer of Ronaldinho to the Rossoneri's club. Tomorrow the player will be in Milan for the medical and to sign the contract which will tie him to Milan until June 30th 2011.



acmilan.com

Ronaldinho to sign for AC Milan!!!!!

Manchester City have lost out to Italian side AC Milan in the race to sign Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho.

"AC Milan and Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle over the transfer of Ronaldinho," the Serie A club said on their website.

"The player will be in Milan on Wednesday to undergo a medical and sign a contract that will keep him at Milan until 30 June 2011."

City had reportedly bid £25.5m for the 28-year-old Brazilian.

But Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport reported on its website that Milan will pay Spanish side Barcelona just £14.6m for his services, with the figure likely to be increased by performance-related bonuses.

Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani has been in Barcelona for talks with the club and the player for two days.

The two-time Fifa World Player of the Year's time at Barcelona effectively came to an end in June when new manager Pep Guardiola announced the playmaker was surplus to requirements.

Nevertheless, the Catalans were not prepared to release Ronaldinho to join Dunga's Brazil squad for next month's Beijing Olympics.

Ronaldinho helped Barcelona win back-to-back Spanish league titles (2004-05, 2005-06) and the Champions League in 2006, but failed to cement a regular place in the starting XI last season because of injury and fitness issues.

SUN: PALOSCHI IN UNDER 19 TOP 10

Today English tabloid 'The Sun' compiled a special Top Ten of ten Under 19 talents to follow carefully during the European championships held in the Czech Republic. The only Italian in the list is Alberto Paloschi, second behind Sinclair of Chelsea. The young Milan striker precedes the Greek Sotiris Ninis and the Spaniard Fran Merida. In the presentation, The Sun reminds of his debut with the Milan shirt, when he scored a goal just 18 seconds after coming on.

Here's news about Ronaldinho transfer issues

Barca wait on Ronaldinho decision

Ronaldinho is expected to decide his future in the next 72 hours after discussions with Barcelona.
Manchester City appear favourites to sign him from the Nou Camp outfit after reportedly tabling a £25.5m bid, while AC Milan are also in the hunt.
Barcelona said: "The two sides agreed to allow two or three days to finalise the player's move to one of the clubs interested in landing the Brazilian." If no deal is tied up in that time he will resume training with Barca.
Earlier, the Spanish club's president Joan Laporta told Catalunya Radio: "Ronaldinho and his agent have two interesting proposals and they are leaning more towards the one from City." However, BBC Sport understands that AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani is in Barcelona to attempt to convince Ronaldinho to choose the San Siro over the City of Manchester stadium.
The two-time Fifa World Player of the Year was not present on Monday morning to start pre-season fitness tests under new Barca coach Pep Guardiola, leading to speculation that talks about his future were set to take place with Milan.
His time at the Spanish giants effectively came to an end in June when Guardiola announced the playmaker was surplus to requirements.
Nevertheless, the Catalans were not prepared to release Ronaldinho to join Dunga's Brazil squad for next month's Beijing Olympics.
Ronaldinho helped the Nou Camp club win back-to-back Spanish league titles (2004-05, 2005-06) and the Champions League in 2006, but failed to cement a regular place in the starting XI last season because of injury and fitness issues.


Manchester City have launched a £25.5 million bid to hijack AC Milan's move for Ronaldinho

Barcelona president Joan Laporta last night confirmed the Eastlands outfit were now locked in a head to head battle with the Italian giants for the Brazil playmaker.
And City hopes of landing the Brazilian are growing after promising a deal that dwarfs the cash being dangled by the Serie A outfit.
The Premier League club's bid is far in excess of the £12 million on offer from Milan.
And City's promise of a £200,000 per week salary is twice the amount Ronaldinho could earn at the San Siro. Ronaldinho was expected back in Spain yesterday to thrash out his future after Barca coach Pep Guardiola confirmed the player was surplus to requirements.
So far the South American has made no secret of the fact he would prefer a switch to Italy and Barca will be hoping City's move will trigger a bigger offer from Milan.
A City spokesperson yesterday said: "A bid has been made and the paperwork has been received. But at this stage there is still no more than a 50-50 chance of the transfer

Ronaldinho get closer to MILAN

AC Milan are on the brink of completing their purchase of Barcelona's Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho, the Italian press reported on Saturday.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport an agreement has been reached between AC Milan's vice-president Adriano Galliano and Barcelona president Joan Laporta for a fee of 15 million euros, with Ronaldinho set to sign a two-year contract to 2010 worth 6.5 million euros per year.

It will be a major coup for the 2007 European Champions who are still licking their wounds after failing to reach the 2008-09 Champions League and needed a big signing to signal their intent for next season.

The club will also be delighted with the price that they have negotiated for a player they have been tracking for over a year, with the final total 20 million euros lower than Barcelona's initial request of 35 million euros.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti is expected to pair him in an all-Brazilian attacking trident, along with Kaka and their young sensation, Alexander Pato.

The former AC Milan and Roma midfielder will have high hopes for a player who hit 70 goals in 149 matches at the Nou Camp and helped Barcelona to the 2006 Champions League title.

There was no mention made as to whether Ronaldinho will be able to take his place as part of Brazil's squad for the Beijing Olympic Games.

He was initially named in the 18-man squad before new Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola refused to release him.

Arsenal 'offer Adebayor to Milan'

AC Milan claim Arsenal are ready to sell Emmanuel Adebayor, a month after insisting he was not available. The Gunners told Milan on 13 June that the striker, 24, was not for sale. But Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani revealed the Gunners have since written to the Italian club to say they have changed their position. Galliani told Italian TV station Antenna 3: "I have a letter from Arsenal that says 'we will consider a deal if it still interests you'." However, the clubs still need to agree a fee, with Milan unwilling to meet Arsenal's £36m valuation of the Togo international.

Galliani says he has spoken to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger about a deal but that they are "divided" on the player's value. Milan said in June that Adebayor was their "sole transfer target" of the summer, although they later said they could not afford him.

After selling Alberto Gilardino to Fiorentina and with Ronaldo out of action because of a serious knee injury, Milan have made signing a striker their top priority, although Barcelona also covet Adebayor, who scored 30 goals in 48 games last season.

"If Adebayor decides to leave, Milan definitely want him but it is clear that if an offer arrives from Barcelona it would be difficult for him to say no," Galliani added.

HUGE OFFER FOR KAKA FROM CHELSEA

European and World Footballer of the Year Kaka has consistently been the subject of multi-million pound bids from Chelsea and Real Madrid over the past few years, however Milan have repeatedly stated that the Brazilian is not for sale.

Galliani has revealed that the Rossoneri have received yet another huge offer for their star player.

"For Kaka, a really big offer has arrived from Chelsea," said Galliani to La Stampa, before also revealing that their had been a number of offers for midfield creator Andrea Pirlo.

"For Pirlo, there have been many requests. As for him, neither Pirlo nor his agent have come in to my office asking for an improvement in his salary."

The 29-year-old’s agent was quoted in the press as saying that his client deserved to be paid the same amount of money as Kaka.

The Brazilian currently earns a reported €7.5m a year, while the Italian, despite being a virtual irreplaceable figure at the club, picks up almost half of this, earning €4m.

goal.com

Ronaldo out of AC Milan

Ronaldo, named MVP at last 2002 Korea-Japan FIFA World Cup, is a free player since his deal with AC Milan expired last Monday.

However, the Brazilian striker is only focused on recovering from a left-knee surgery he underwent last February, agent Felipe Bruno said from Brazil.

According to his spokesperson, AC Milan refused to start talks with Ronaldo regarding an eventual renewal, but they are in touch with 31-year-old ace in order to know about his recovery. Anyway, a resume in the talks after treatment are not ruled out.

Ronaldo, who decided to get away from France to escape from the press and be closer to his girlfriend, said he might return to the pitch by November.

The Brazilian press highlighted the fact that this is the first time the international striker is unemployed since his career debut at Cruzeiro.

The only team which publicly announced their interest in signing him were Flamengo, current Brasileirao leader; lately, Ronaldo admitted his admiration for the team.

AC Milan quit Adebayor race after refusing Arsenal's £35m price tag

AC MILAN last night pulled out of the race to sign Emmanuel Adebayor after claiming Arsenal's £35million price tag has left Barcelona and Chelsea fighting it out for his signature.

Barca have already had a £25m bid turned down and Chelsea could launch a raid on their London rivals to get Adebayor as a ready-made replacement for Didier Drogba if he ends up quitting Stamford Bridge this summer.


Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said: "Adebayor is overridden by continuous requests for £35m - these figures are impossible for clubs in Italy.

"When big clubs like Barcelona and Chelsea arrive it is impossible to compete because they have a much more advantageous fiscal situation."

Milan had been leading the chase for Adebayor, who has three years left on the £40,000-a-week deal he signed last summer but Arsenal are determined not to sell the Togo striker on the cheap until they have a replacement, with Blackburn's Roque Santa Cruz top of their hitlist.


dailyrecord.co.uk

ZAMBROTTA: "At Milan with enthusiasm"

Gianluca Zambrotta expressed his enthusiasm for the new experience at Milan which is about to start: 'A fascinating adventure awaits me at Milan - he told Corriere Canadese - I return to Italy at a great club. In Spain I experienced two very positive years: we did not reach the objectives we aimed for, but we were unlucky.' On his former team mate Ronaldinho: 'He's a great player. Lately he's had some problems but he's always able to make the difference. He's already given a lot to football, and he can still be decisive.'

FIGC: SECOND NON-EU PLAYER ALLOWED

From now on clubs will be allowed to have two non-EU players in their squad. This was decided by the Federal Council which reunited today in Rome.

ALESSANDRO COSTACURTA SUCCESFUL AT EXAM

Alessandro Costacurta was promoted for the exam of the professional coaches master of the Uefa first category with 110 marks. Maximum votes as announced by the FIGC technical sector. The former Rossoneri's defender discussed a thesis on the coach and the management of human resources.

acmilan.com