Silva invites Hamsik to Milan

Milan defender Thiago Silva has asked Napoli star Marek Hamsik to join him at San Siro.
The Rossoneri have been linked with a move for Slovakian midfielder and Silva is hoping Hamsik will eventually end up at San Siro.
“It would be so much better if Hamsik were playing this game with a Rossoneri jersey,” smiled Thiago Silva in La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“He has incredible technique and class. I hope he can be my Milan teammate next season.”
The Brazilian defender was then quizzed on the latest interest from Barcelona.
“I personally did not say no to anybody, but that’s because I was never contacted.
“In any case, I consider it unfair to reject any option out of hand, as you never know what could happen in future. I did the same in Brazil.”

Anzhi still keen on Gattuso

The agent of Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has revealed that Russian side Anzhi are still keen on his client.

The veteran midfielder considered an offer from Anzhi in the summer transfer window, but ultimately decided to remain at San Siro.

However, his agent Andrea D’Amico admits the Russians are still interested in Gattuso.

“It’s still early and players out of contract can start negotiations next year,” Andrea D’Amico told Sport Italia.

“The interest of Anzhi was there before and even now, but so far there have been no developments, so we’ll talk with AC Milan and we’ll see.

“Rino has been there for many years and every time we’ve done the contract after a short talk with (Adriano Galliani).

“We’ll see what he plans, depending on the demands, Rino is very calm.”

GOOD NEWS - huntelaar won't leave milan

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's agent Arnold Oosterveer is convinced his client will not leave Milan during the summer transfer window.

The striker has been tipped for a Premier League future, but his agent feels that door is not open.

Huntelaar was linked with Tottenham as part of a reported deal involving Milan target Giovanni Dos Santos, but Oosterveer remained firm in his response.

"There has been no request from any Premier League club. I have read the papers, but it's just rumours," he told Sport.co.uk.

"He is happy at Milan and they are happy with him. The Rossoneri want to keep him, and he wants to stay.

Roma Have Not Contacted Milan For Marek Jankulovski

Milan defender Marek Jankulovski's spokesman says he is unaware of a reported interest from Roma, but maintains there is scope for development in relation to the player's future.

Jankulovski's deal expires at the end of next season, but Milan have not moved to offer him a new deal. On Monday he was linked with Roma as Claudio Ranieri is looking for an alternative to John Arne Riise at left-back.

However, a spokesman for the defender told Forzaroma.info that there was no contact from Roma, though he did acknowlege the club could be fitting for him.

"At the moment we have not received any contact from the Giallorossi, but we cannot exclude that there will be positive developments," said the spokesman.

"What we have to do is understand what his future will be. We have to speak with Milan. It's nice to hear of Roma's interest as they are a great club, but I cannot predict that he will go there."

Milan To Promote Youth Team Players Rather Than Spend On Major Transfers - Reports

Milan's policies to curb spending have left coach Massimiliano Allegri facing the sharp end of cuts and, according to Tuttosport, he will promote from within rather than spend on new recruits.

Rodney Strasser, Alexander Merkel, Simone Verdi and Giacomo Beretta are expected to make the step up and join the first team.

Midfielders Strasser and Merkel have impressed during pre-season, the former has already made his Serie A debut and at 20-year-old offers Allegri promise.

Verdi and Beretta may find their space despite the difficulty of breaking into an attacking line-up which includes Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Ronaldinho, Alexandre Pato, Filippo Inzaghi and Marco Borriello.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Verdi is likely to be used as back-up for Ronaldinho, who is currently recovering from injury. He has impressed Allegri this summer and is likely to get more of a chance to show his class in the league.

from goal.com

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.