Football transfer news

Silvio Berlusconi has stated that the success that AC Milan have enjoyed during his time at the club are unmatched in the game.

Since the Italian politician took charge of the Rossoneri in 1986, the club have won the Champions League on five occasions and a total of eight Serie titles.

“My experience as a president is still important, I’m the most successful one in footballing history,” the 76-year-old told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The president then went on to discuss possible reinforcements to the team for the second half of the 2012-13 campaign.

“Transfers? We will consider Milan’s needs in January. We have to deal with [Nigel] De Jong’s injury which is a shame. A present for our fans? We’ll see.”

Meanwhile, his daughter Barbara, who also works for the club, believes Milan are currently going through a period of transition and the future of the side lies in raising talented footballers rather than signing big stars.

“The idea to cut costs is the only road to take,” she told reporters. “Football doesn’t like change, but there are times when decisions need to be made.

“That’s not to say that we can’t buy champions, but our ideas are different. We want our youngsters to grow and we want to construct a side around them,” she continued.

The 28-year-old then reflected on the loss of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but insisted that the move was important for Stephan El Shaarewy’s development.

“Let’s say that we seized a good opportunity with this offer from PSG which was too good to refuse,” she added.

“To lose a player of great quality is never ideal, but that’s the way things are. One champion goes and we make another.”

She then took the time to praise German giants Bayern Munich for their smart budgeting, and claimed that Paris Saint-Germain’s current riches are nothing to aspire to.

“We don’t envy anyone. We’re the club with the most titles of any in the world. Today, I only have admiration for clubs like Bayern Munich who have put in place a healthy economic model.”

Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta has claimed that Pep Guardiola and Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic have reconciled their differences.

The Swedish star played under the 41-year-old at Camp Nou between 2009 and 2010, but had a volatile relationship with the coach, and was transferred to AC Milan after just one season.

“It is true that there was a historical situation, but it happened. I think both have mended their relationship,” the 50-year-old told Telefoot.

Guardiola is now on a year-long sabbatical after leaving Barca last summer, and Laporta believes he will be hot property when he eventually decides to start coaching again.

“All the big clubs would like to have Guardiola as a coach.”

Among the clubs said to be interested in the former Spain international’s services are Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Manchester City.

Mario Balotelli has just three weeks to save his Manchester City career as Italian giants AC Milan prepare a move in the January transfer window.
Milan are reluctant to meet City’s £20 million asking price for Balotelli but will prepare a bumper loan bid for the 22-year-old, who they will offer around £4m (€5m) per year to play at San Siro.

City manager Roberto Mancini is due to meet director of football Txiki Begiristain this week to finalise the club’s plans for the window, with Balotelli’s future top of the agenda after his poor performance in Sunday’s Manchester derby.

Mancini has accused Balotelli of risking his career with his lack of professionalism and is ready to allow the controversial striker to leave – either permanently or on loan – if his attitude does not improve before the New Year.

Balotelli’s contract expires in 2014 and there are no plans for City to offer him new terms as Begiristain and Mancini look to free up room to rebuild the squad, with Atletico Madrid star Radamel Falcao and Malaga playmaker Isco their top targets.

While City would prefer a permanent deal given the former Inter man’s sell-on value is rapidly diminishing, they accept that a loan move is more likely given Milan’s financial problems and fading interest from French side Paris Saint-Germain.

Balotelli is believed to be keen on a return to Italy – where he is currently visiting his newborn son – and would accept a small pay cut on his £110,000-a-week deal at City.

Mancini has consistently defended Balotelli – who has scored just one league goal this season – and convinced the City hierarchy to resist a big-money approach from PSG during the summer after the former Inter man starred at Euro 2012.

But Begiristain is keen to make his mark on the City squad and Mancini also appeared to lose patience with the forward on Sunday, replacing him with Carlos Tevez in the 52nd minute.

“I love Mario but it is important for him to start to think about his job,” Mancini said after his side’s 3-2 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.

“He has everything to play well but he can’t continue to play like today. We wanted more from him.

“When you have a player that has Mario’s quality, you cannot understand why he continues to throw it out of the window. It is incredible.

“I have seen players in my life with fantastic quality. But in the end, they did nothing. I don’t want Mario to finish like these players. It would be bad for him.”

The deal could be complicated by a frosty relationship between City and Milan following protracted negotiations over a move for Carlos Tevez last season, which eventually fell through as the Argentine striker stayed in Manchester.

Balotelli’s agent, Mino Raiola, has claimed his client will remain at City after the close of the January transfer window. He said: “Absolutely [he will]. You can ask me the question another four hundred times and it will always be the same answer.”

But Goal.com understands Balotelli would welcome a transfer in the New Year while, in any case, the decision on his future is likely to be taken out of his hands by Begiristain and Mancini.

Balotelli joined City from Inter for £24m in 2010 but has never hidden his desire to one day play for their great rivals, having once been pictured wearing an AC Milan shirt to the fury of the Nerazzurri supporters.

Manchester United full-back Patrice Evra admits he is flattered by the reported interest from Paris Saint-Germain but insists he is happy to remain at Old Trafford.

The France international’s contract at the Premier League leaders expires at the end of next season but has seen his place in the side come into question at times after a poor spell of form coupled with the Red Devils’ purchase of Alexander Buttner to provide competition at left-back.

With speculation rife that the club have also set their sights on Everton’s Leighton Baines, rumours have began to emanate from France that the big-spending Parisiens, who have also reportedly made Chelsea’s Ashley Cole a transfer target, could be set to make a move for the former national team captain.

However, speaking to Canal+, Evra confirmed that a move away from Old Trafford is unlikely at this stage.

He said: “This is the club from the capital, I have never hidden my love for Paris, even if Monaco will stay my club.

“It always hurts my heart to see the club not win the championship or qualify for the Champions League.

“It is always a pleasure that Paris is interested by me, especially because I’m Parisian, but you will have to kill [Sir Alex] Ferguson before I come to Paris. There is nothing done and I’m happy in Manchester.”

Evra played the full 90 minutes as Sir Alex Ferguson’s men stretched their lead at the top to six points by ending second-placed local rivals Manchester City’s unbeaten league record so far this season with a 3-2 win at the Etihad Stadium, courtesy of a double from Wayne Rooney and a last minute winner from Robin van Persie.

Stewart Downing is a frustrated figure at Anfield as he battles to earn more starts for Liverpool under boss Brendan Rodgers, but he aims to keep trying his best to work his way into the manager’s future plans.

Downing has made just five appearances in the Premier League this season, with most of his starts restricted to the Europa League where he has bagged two goals so far in the competition. But he has yet to find the net in the Premier League – something he hopes to improve upon.

“It has been frustrating at times and I have been disappointed this season not to have played more games,” Downing told reporters.

“But I am just trying to do my best when I play and to get a goal. It is a great club to play for. Hopefully it long continues.”

Downing has been linked with a return to his former club Middlesbrough in January, but it remains to be seen whether he is seen as surplus to requirements on Merseyside.

Liverpool have been in better form of late after a poor start to the season, and have picked up two wins and a draw in their last four Premier League outings. They go to West Ham on Sunday in search of a victory that would take them into the top 10, level on points with the Hammers.