AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has reassured fans that the club will sign “a champion” to make up for the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the new season.
The Milanese club have just sold Ibra as well as Brazilian defender Thiago Silva to Paris Saint-Germain and with the departure earlier this summer of Filippo Inzaghi, Clarence Seedorf, Alessandro Nesta and Gennaro Gattuso many MIlan fans are wondering what sort of side AC Milan will put out next season.
Last season, they were outclassed by rivals Juventus who won the Scudetto after going the campaign unbeaten and without the firepower or the leadership offered by the talismanic Swedish striker, it is feared that Milan could struggle to put in a serious bid for the championship.
But Galliani promised that the money from the transfers, expected to be around 65 million euros, will be utilised to buy an equally strong replacement up front in attack, ensuring that the side will be just as much of a force as they have been in recent seasons.
“I see much frenzy, but it is right to remember that there’s time until August 31 to make signings,” he was quoted as saying earlier on Wednesday.
“Rest assured that a champion up front will arrive at Milan.”
Recent reports in Italy have linked Milan to a double swoop for Manchester City forward pair Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez, as well as Genoa striker Mattia Destro.
But Galliani told the Gazzetta dello Sport:
“Dzeko or Tevez? Let’s wait and see.”
Moreover, a move for Destro, who scored 12 goals whilst on loan at Siena last season, appears to be off the cards, as Serie A rivals Roma close on a deal.
Galliani added:
“We don’t want to interfere with Roma.”
So this is the part I don’t understand. I thought the reason to let go of the veterans and then sign high priced stars like Ibra and Silva was to slash the Milan payroll. I thought the PSG transfer would save the club over 150 million euros.
If that is the case, then buying high priced players like Tevez doesn’t solve anything. He will cost almost as much in wages as Ibra. So what did AC Milan gain then from all these deals?
