Milan Transfer News and Rumours Trackers: Week of October 27
Silvio Berlusconi was watching his team at San Siro on Sunday, his presence more and more familiar as he attempts to reconnect with AC Milan. But the president was not the only one there to be impressed.
In the stands was Richard Lee, a Hong Kong businessman who has "contributed to the expansion of historic brands Ferrari and Maserati," according to Enrico Passarella of GianlucaDiMarzio.com. We're talking money.
Whether the club is on the market is still an unanswered question. The same goes for Ignazio Abate and Fernando Torres, a long-standing member of the team and another a new arrival rumoured to be on the way out.
Let's take a look at the rest of the news.
Berlusconi with a Special Guest
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The Berlusconi family had Richard Lee as a guest at the Milan-Fiorentina game on Sunday, with the sole purpose of doing business with the Rossoneri.
Milan are "pondering some collaborations in China," according to Gianluca Di Marzio, which could include making a home base there (Casa Milan) and doing other things to supplement commercial income.
It appears that Milan are not yet for sale, but the trend of selling abroad is growing in Italy. Roma and Bologna are now owned by Americans, and Inter was taken over by Indonesian businessman Erick Thohir.
This was just the first meeting with Lee, with perhaps more to come.
Abate Wants Milan for Life
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For a club that signs so many players on free transfers, it would be ironic if they lost one of their best players on one.
According to the Mirror in England, Liverpool are "keeping tabs" on Ignazio Abate, whose contract expires next summer.
His agent Mino Raiola told CalcioMercato.com (h/t Football Italia) that the Rossoneri have not yet made an offer, despite a breakout season for Abate.
But the 27-year-old told La Gazzetta dello Sport last week (h/t Football Italia) that he wants to finish his career with Milan.
"I’ll stay here as long as I can," Abate said. "This is my home, although I know in football you can always be moved on."
The Italian has four assists in eight Serie A matches.
Torres Staying Put
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Schalke will not make a move for striker Fernando Torres, despite his old manager Roberto Di Matteo taking over the German club.
Rumours erupted last week after the German paper Bild reported that Schalke were interested in the 30-year-old.
But Gianluca Di Marzio's website shot down that report, emphasizing that Torres is not interested in any move to Germany (h/t Football Italia).
Torres has only made six appearances with Milan so far.
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