Comments from Milanello

GALLIANI: "FIVE YOUNGSTERS WITH US IN PRESEASON"

Milan CEO Adriano Galliani at half-time during the Primavera quarter-final between Roma and Milan commented on the Rossoneri peformance: "Roma played better than us and deserve their lead. However, we always do better in the second half and we hope to draw level. Winning the Primavera title would bode well for the future." Galliani added, "From July 12th, as well as Merkel we'll bring also Fossati, Calvano, De Sciglio and Valoti [former Albinoleffe] on pre-season training at Milanello." There was also time to mention the transfer market, "President Berlusconi has been making Milan gifts for 25 years, a left-sided midfielder will be signed."

Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri confirmed that the Rossoneri will be bringing in a midfielder but it wont be Napoli’s Marek Hamsik

With the services of defenders Taye Taiwo and Philippe Mexes secured, the champions will be hoping to strengthen the midfield after the loss of Andrea Pirlo to Juventus.

“We are looking for a Milan-class player in midfield with certain characteristics,” Allegri told reporters.

“The club will sign important players for me to train. Hamsik? We never went after him, so it was all just newspaper talk.

“Adriano Galliani is right when he says we have time until August 31.

“Don’t forget last year Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrived on August 27, then Kevin-Prince Boateng and Robinho came too.

Robinho has told Italian champions Milan to not waste any of their transfer funds on a new forward this summer.

“One thing is for sure and that is that we don’t need any new attackers,” the Brazilian international told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“We already have a lot of options and don’t forget that Pippo Inzaghi will be back too. He never gets old.

“Next season you’ll see Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexandre Pato in devastating form,” he added of his teammates.

“They make a perfect partnership together.”

The Rossoneri will also be able to count on the attacking talents of Italy No 10 Antonio Cassano.

Meanwhile, Robinho admitted that he doesn’t expect Brazil teammate Ganso to leave Santos for his club side.

“It will be difficult to bring him to Milan,” continued the former Manchester City and Real Madrid player.

“He’d cost a lot and today Santos are the Barcelona of the South American game. He’ll have to think long and hard before deciding to leave.”

The MSC Splendida Rossonera cruise ship is continuing its course through the Mediterranean. After Napoli, today it will dock in Palermo before continuing on to Palma di Mallorca, Barcelona and Marseille.

Second stage for the MSC Splendida. After Napoli, the cruise ship docked in Palermo at 8.00 am this morning. Today is a relaxed day for the rossoneri players on board as there are no excursions planned while in Sicily.

However yesterday was full of commitments. In the evening Jean Pierre Meersseman explained to the hosts of the cruise the principles of Milan Lab. He talked about the concept of Milan Lab and that it is a bank of stored information and preventions that doesn't claim to cancel or heal injuries. Meersseman made a practical demonstration with a participant of the cruise, showing how chiropractory works.

Plenty of questions also for Doctor Daniele Tognaccini, the man in charge of athletic preparations for the rossoneri, predominantly for players in Serie A as opposed to other championships where injuries are more common and often more serious. There were questions about Pato and Inzaghi's injuries and their current status: the doctor replied comprehensivley to all questions.

Tomorrow evening, Wednesday 8th, during the sailing between Palermo and Palma di Mallorca, doctor Francesco Avaldi, at 18.30, will hold a conference on the correct eating habits for an athlete.

Then at 19.30, on bridge 7 Aft Lounge the patricipants of the cruise can have photos taken with the scudetto trophy along with rossoneri players.

Let's remember that at the end of the rossonera cruise, Milan Channel will show a special feature collecting all of the emotions of the week aboard the MSC Splendida.

Blog: The rise of the Little Pharaoh

Linked with Milan and Inter, monitored by clubs in Spain and England, Stephan El Shaarawy is a wanted man. But who is he? Antonio Labbate explains

There was a general air of pessimism around the Italian national side last October. The painful memories of South Africa 2010 were still at the forefront of the nation’s consciousness and Italy boss Cesare Prandelli admitted that the talent pool, containing the Azzurri stars of tomorrow, was small to say the least.

Genoa chief Enrico Preziosi didn’t totally agree. With a Mediaset microphone thrust into his face, he was asked whether there were any new Mario Balotellis coming through the Italian game. With no hesitation he responded with two names – Andrea Ranocchia and Stephan El Shaarawy. “They are ready for the national side right now,” he claimed.

While few argued with the nomination of Ranocchia, the Marassi chief’s acclamation of El Shaarawy was a little premature, seeing as he had sent the 17-year-old out on loan to Serie B outfit Padova just a few months previously. Good enough for Italy, but not good enough for Genoa?

Nine months later and Preziosi’s confidence has been rewarded. Ranocchia has become an international regular and joined Inter in January, while young Stephan, although not quite ready for Italy, is now seeing his name linked with the two Milan clubs after excelling in the Second Division.

El Shaarawy was born in Savona in 1992 to an Italian mother and an Egyptian father. Blessed with a natural flair on the ball, he caught the eye of Michele Sbravati, the head of Genoa’s youth sector, at the age of only 11. Just five years later he made his Serie A debut, becoming the club’s youngest ever top-flight player.

“He’d only just turned 16, but I was certain that I had a real talent,” stated Gian Piero Gasperini, the Coach who threw him on in the 83rd minute of Genoa’s 1-0 win at Chievo. “I knew that I had some player at my disposal from the first time I saw him control a ball. He has important qualities that he needs to take advantage of.”

The Little Pharaoh would play another two games for the Rossoblu in Serie A, before the decision to send him on loan was taken. Padova moved quickly and they were perhaps not prepared for what they got. The kit man was certainly caught out, missing a few letters from his stocks, he had to misspell the youngster’s surname on his No 92 shirt by using an I instead of a Y.

Equipped with a Marek Hamsik style haircut, the attacking midfielder, who can also play out wide or as a second striker, wasted little time in becoming a fan favourite. He dazzled in his debut for Padova during their 1-0 Coppa Italia victory against Ravenna, instantly winning the praise of Vincenzo Italiano. “He has shown that, despite his age, he has skills,” the club captain noted. “He’s a down to earth boy, he applies himself as he wants to mature and grow. I’m convinced he’ll do well.”

The former Chievo player was not wrong. Despite picking up an injury which ruled him out for part of the season, El Shaarawy helped inspired Padova into the play-offs with nine goals from 27 games. He also gave the home fans a glimpse of talent that they perhaps had not seen since Alessandro Del Piero left for Juventus in 1993.

Such was his impact this term that Azzurri Under-21 boss Ciro Ferrara called him up for February’s 2011 game against England – although he didn’t play – before returning him back to the Italy U-19 set-up. Full boss Prandelli has also watched him in the flesh after admitting last September that he wasn’t overly familiar with the player’s ability.

His potential was reportedly valued at €10m by Inter this week, but Preziosi has rejected the notion that El Shaarawy will be sold – even if he is also aware that Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri is watching Stephan’s development.

“We have many young players who are doing well and El Shaarawy is one of them,” Preziosi noted of the kid who has played for all of the Azzurri’s youth sides from U-16 to U-19 level. “There are some important clubs looking at him, including English and Spanish, but he is not for sale. He is our future.” And possibly Italy’s too…

red&blacklegion wrote:imagine what would happen if Binho and Pato get injured at the same time!

Milantildeath wrote:Hamsik or Montolivo seem the likely choices for me

ALEXANDRE PATO commits himself to Milan and he’s got no intention of leaving.

The player is currently getting ready for the Copa America which kicks off in a few days, but speaking to Don Balon, Alexandre Pato spoke about Milan, his future, teammates, Allegri and next season objectives.

“Getting to Milan was a dream come true,” he said. “I would not leave Milan for any club, and my will is to remain with the Rossoneri as long as possible, until they get tired of me, I want to play here.”

“I started training alongside players who were idols for me, like Ronaldo [Luís Nazário de Lima] and [Paolo] Maldini. When I heard that AC Milan were interested in me, I immediately said to yes to my as I did not want to miss this opportunity for anything in the world. Back then, there were seven Brazilians at Milan so it was easy to integrate. I became part of the most successful team in the world, where the best players are.

Club Targets

“I can not deny to be particularly happy about winning the last championship, because it was something I expected already from the first time I wore the shirt of the Rossoneri,” the 21-year-old forward continued. “Now I want to continue to win because the league is nothing but the beginning of a string of triumphs.

“Now we wait for the Italian Super Cup, the Serie A and the UCL, and I want to win everything. I’d also like to play one day in the World Club and I will do everything to play in all the important games.”

Coach and Teammates

Massimiliano Allegri won the Scudetto in his first year in helm of Milan and was not afraid to put Alexandre on the bench when was not on form. Pato believes that Max was born a winner and can do great things.

“With Allegri we all had a great time, he was a man who showed great character, he was born awinner and he showed that by coming to Milan and winning the Scudetto in his first season,” Pato said of his boss.

“With Zlatan there is no problem, we play together, we can create goals, we are available to the team. Our goal is the same: to win. Who decides if we play together is the coach and I am fine with Ibrahimovic.”

Personal Goals

“These setbacks in the form due to all the injuries helped me to understand that my body needed special care and I learned to make the most of my performance. I went to see some experts in the Unites Sates in order to try and find the cause of my problems. I’m still young and I have to improve.

“I want to become a major player in the history of Milan, a symbol, legend, one of those winning players who have left with big memories and trophies,” Pato, who will be a starter in the Copa concluded.