AC Milan Transfer News: Tracking Latest Rumours, Updates & Signings

You’re reading the right article, if you want the latest AC Milan transfer rumors, news, updates, signings and departures.

Let’s see what moves Adriano “Bosman” Galliani and Silvio Berlusconi make during this January transfer window.

Changes are needed because the Rossoneri need a miracle if they are to win Serie A this season. 

Kaká Coming Home?

Former AC Milan great Kaká could don the Rossoneri colours again, with AC Milan announcing they've entered talks with Real Madrid over the possibility of him returning on a loan deal, according to Adam Digby at ESPN FC. 

"

I’m coming home

I’m coming home

Tell the World I’m coming home

Let the rain wash away all the pain of yesterday

I know my kingdom awaits and they’ve forgiven my mistakes

I’m coming home

"

The lyrics from Skylar Grey's "Coming Home" are so appropriate in Kaká's situation. 

Los Blancos made him one of the wealthiest footballers on the planet, but like Fernando Torres at Chelsea, Kaká was miserable. 

Should the Brazilian succeed on loan, Milan try and force Real into cutting their losses, kind of like what the Italian club did to Barcelona with Zlatan Ibrahimović. 

Of course, there is also the distinct possibility that Kaká is done, and may end up going through the motions as Andriy Shevchenko when he returned home on loan during the 2008-09 season. 

AC Milan Sign Riccardo Saponara

According to Nadia Carminati at Sky Sports, AC Milan will sign Empoli youngster Riccardo Saponara, who has netted eight times in Serie B this season.

Goal.com's Kris Voakes said:

"

With great poise, balance, superb timing of a run and a cool eye for a pass, Saponara has been the star man in 2012-13 for an Empoli side transformed from relegation candidates to play-off contenders, and has scored eight league goals on the way. His great skill on the ball has also helped him to catch the eye of the team he has dreamt of representing for so long.

Now he is one step closer to becoming the man he idolised for all those years in the red and black. 

Having made the switch from the wing to the central attacking midfield slot, he is already beginning to turn in form similar to Milan’s former No.22.

Many keen followers of Italy’s second tier have labelled Saponara the ‘Kaka of Serie B’, which is a high accolade indeed given the strength of that division this term.

If he can make the step up in time, then he may well soon stand alongside the likes of Stephan El Shaarawy, Mattia De Sciglio and M’Baye Niang as a regular in the ‘New Milan’ gradually being built in Lombardy.

"

Football Italia is reporting that Parma, who own 50 percent of Riccardo's rights, will talk to Milan about how to handle him. 

Mario Balotelli Not in Silvio Berlusconi's Good Books

AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi has attacked Mario Balotelli's character (via The Telegraph): "The name of Balotelli never came into my thoughts. He is a rotten apple and could infect every group where he goes, even Milan."

This follows Berlusconi suggesting that 18-year-old Rossoneri forward M'Baye Niang is better than Mario. 

Balotelli, a self-confessed Milanista, won't be too pleased with Silvio's outspokenness. 

These recent comments by Berlusconi suggest that as long as he owns the club, Mario's destination won't be Milan should Manchester City give up on the troubled forward. 

Robinho Coming Home to Santos?

UPDATE: January, 9

Mino Raiola, Robinho's agent, claims AC Milan blocked the Brazilian's move to Santos: "We made a deal and we were very close to closing. But Milan has not accepted the terms. What happened? You only have to ask Milan."

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UPDATE: January, 7

According to Tom Etherington at Sambafoot, Gremio were desperate to sign Robinho, but the Brazilian decided to do a u-turn and return to Milan. 

Atlético Mineiro, Flamengo and Fluminense had also expressed an interest. 

If Robinho was to return back home, Santos still are the No. 1 destination. 

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UPDATE: January 6

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has withdrawn Robinho from the transfer market for the time being, according to Sky Sports. 

The stumbling block was finances but this seems to be a strategic move from Galliani to force Santos to free up more money. 

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UPDATE: January 2

Football Italia is reporting that Robinho is back in Milan to negotiate a move to Santos. What does this mean? He's attempting to push AC Milan into selling him. 

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Santos have submitted a €7 million bid to AC Milan for want-away Brazilian Robinho, according to Tuttosport. 

If you don't remember the hype around Robinho, think Neymar before Neymar.

In fact, Robinho was so good that Pelé had found his heir—even though the living legend said the same thing about Nii Lamptey and Giovanni Silva. 

Robinho broke out into a bona fide star with Santos, outshining prodigious teenagers like his teammate Diego, Fluminense's Carlos Alberto and Internacional's Nilmar. 

Should Robinho leave the Rossoneri, it would follow an ongoing narrative that ended his career at Real Madrid and Manchester City—unfulfilled. 

Tom Etherington at Sambafoot reported that Flamengo made the claim Robinho wanted to join them. 

Atlético Mineiro, Ronaldinho's current club, are also reportedly interested in his services.

Though, Italian football correspondent Tancredi Palmeri tweeted that Flamengo and Mineiro had yet to submit a bid for Robinho: 

"

Santos just raised the bid for Robinho to 7m € - Milan still hasn't received so far any bid Atletico Mineiro and Flamengo

— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) December 31, 2012"

It would be bizarre timing from Milan to sell Robinho, given that this season he has scored twice and provided three assists during a five-game stretch. Cynics will say that he's auditioning for a new club. 

Wesley Sneijder, a Milanista?

UPDATE: January, 15

Galatasaray has reached an agreement with Inter Milan to sign Wesley Sneijder, but the Dutchman hasn't fully committed to the Turkish club. 

Galatasaray official Semih Haznedaroglu said (via Football Italia): 

"

He has to give us an answer as soon as possible because we have done all we can. Perhaps he’ll give us an answer today, but all this delay isn’t ideal. We can’t force him to come here if he doesn’t want to. Perhaps he prefers to play in the Premier League.

"

Obviously, Wesley was never going to sign with AC Milan, but this confirms the original transfer rumour was just BS. 

---

Football Italia (via Corriere dello Sport) believe Milan management are once again flirting with the idea of signing Inter's Sneijder at a cut-price, with the Nerazzurri trying desperately to offload the Dutchman. 

Wait... the same Sneijder that's one of the highest paid players in Serie A? The same Adriano Galliani that runs the club like a homeless man? (courtesy of Milan Obsession). 

The Rossoneri need creativity hence why Sneijder's name has been bandied about.

But there are players like Nürnberg's Hiroshi Kiyotake or Freiburg's Max Kruse, who have a higher upside, a profitable re-sell value and command significantly cheaper wages. 

Kevin-Prince Boateng

Kevin-Prince Boateng's brave protest against racism during a game against Pro Patria has left him with an empty feeling (from bild via The Telegraph): 

"

It's [racism] not something which you can just shake off. I will sleep on it for the next three nights and then sit down with my agent Roger Wittmann next week. We will have to see if it's really worth carrying on playing in Italy.

"

It's not just the racism, Boateng's form for AC Milan has been dreadful, the press have highlighted his inability to create or score consistently and there's unwanted tabloid attention his girlfriend Melissa Satta brings. 

KPB could end up staying in Italy due to his relationship with Satta. 

Alexandre Pato Now a Corinthians Player

UPDATE: January, 4

The Guardian are reporting that Alexandre Pato has joined Brazilian club Corinthians, who have paid AC Milan €15 million. 

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UPDATE: January, 2

According to Alec Fenn at Goal.com, Pato's transfer to Corinthians is close to being a done deal. 

---

Corriere dello Sport are reporting that Pato's agent confirmed that his client will join FIFA Club World champions Corinthians.  

Silvio Berlusconi made the audacious claim that AC Milan turned down a €40 million bid for the injury-prone forward from an unnamed Russian club. 

It's all spin from Silvio. 

Here's a timeline of Pato's thigh flaring up from an article I published on Bleacher Report last October. 

"

February 12, 2010 (via Reuters): "Forward Alexandre Pato and defender Alessandro Nesta have been passed fit. Brazilian Pato has not played this year after a thigh injury and coach Leonardo has frequently given his place on the right of his front three to David Beckham."

March 1, 2010 (via The Independent): "Pato then suffered an injury in his right thigh and is a doubt for Milan's Champions League tie at Old Trafford in just over a week's time."

March 22, 2010 (via Sky Sports): "AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato is likely to require several more weeks on the sidelines after tearing his thigh muscle at the weekend."

September 18, 2010 (from AFP via TheStar.com.my): "Pato suffered a thigh strain and will be out for two to three weeks."

November 12, 2010 (via UEFA.com): "AC Milan will be without Pato for the rest of 2010 after tests confirmed he sustained damage to his left thigh muscle in Wednesday's 3-1 victory at home to US Città di Palermo."

April 18, 2011 (from AP via USA Today): "AC Milan forward Alexandre Pato has been diagnosed with a right thigh strain that will keep him out for up to three weeks, imposing another obstacle for the Serie A leader to overcome in its title pursuit."

September 22, 2011 (via UEFA.com): "AC Milan will be without Pato for at least four weeks after the Brazilian international striker strained a muscle in his right thigh during Wednesday's 1-1 Serie A draw with Udinese Calcio."

January 19, 2012 (via La Gazzetta dello Sport): "Milan will be without Alexandre Pato for almost a month. An injury to a muscle at the back of his thigh (the biceps femoris muscle) during the game with Novara is less serious than first feared, but will need at least 3-4 weeks to recover from."

April 5, 2012 (via Reuters): "Milan, who last month sent the player to the United States to try and clear up his constant injury problems, confirmed that Pato had suffered a problem in his left thigh and would undergo further tests in 10 to 15 days."

August, 22 2012 (via Football Italia): "Milan striker Alexandre Pato has sustained another thigh injury in training today, so he’s expected to miss the season opener with Sampdoria."

"

Writing for BBC Sport, South American football correspondent Tim Vickery pointed to physical trainer Paulo Paixao and his team as the men responsible for re-vitalising the careers of Ronaldo and Rivaldo, both deemed injury liabilities at Inter Milan and Barcelona respectively. 

Pato will be hoping the Brazilian system of injury-prevention can extend his career. 

Didier Drogba "still a Beast," According to Marcello Lippi

UPDATE: January, 8

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, people close to Didier Drogba have refuted media claims of Carlos Arino Bajo being Drogba's agent. 

Didier's PR company added that the striker's agent is Thierno Seydi not Bajo.

Guess, Drogba will be staying in China. 

---

UPDATE: January, 5 

The Guardian is reporting that Drogba is communicating with AC Milan and Juventus. 

His agent Carlos Arino Bajo pointed out a termination clause in Didier's contract with Shanghai Shenhua (from tutomercatoweb.com via The Guardian): "Didier has a termination agreement with the Chinese club and I think he has a lot of possibilities to move to Italy in January."

---

FIFA World Cup winning manager Marcello Lippi says that Drogba still has what it takes to play for a club like Milan, according to Neil McLeman at Mirror Football. 

In Lippi's first season in charge of Guangzhou Evergrande, China's version of Manchester City, the Italian won the domestic double. 

Through his own observation, Drogba's performances for Shanghai Shenhua were good, and the Ivorian was "still a beast."

Lippi did add a caveat by stating that Didier's decision to cash-in with Shenhua meant it was highly improbable that Milan would target him. 

Silvio Berlusconi recently said that M'Baye Niang is better than Mario Balotelli. If that is the case, give Niang a chance. 

Daniele De Rossi to Leave Roma for AC Milan?

Elia Raimondo at goal.com is reporting that Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi could be heading to AC Milan. 

Huh!? Didn't he sign a five-year extension with Roma last February, making him the highest paid Italian footballer in Serie A? 

Yep, but he has a long-running feud with manager Zdeněk Zeman, who is infamous for verbally attacking people regardless of their stature—just ask those associated with Juventus. 

De Rossi has underachieved this season, in part due to Zeman's tough love, but the 29-year-old was solid in the 4-2 win over Milan. 

De Rossi's wages are just too high for Milan and Roma know Manchester City and Russian clubs would offer higher transfer fees for the Italian. 

Deep down, Roma management know they've made a massive mistake giving that much money to De Rossi. 

Do Milan need a central midfielder? Absolutely. Massimo Ambrosini has been okay but the club can do better.

Since changing from No. 22 to No. 8, Antonio Nocerino has been sub-par, and should be sold. 

If only Milan signed Borja Valero, who has been world-class for Fiorentina this season. 

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