Beckham close to finalising return to AC Milan

David Beckham has revealed he is ready to sign a loan agreement with AC Milan to keep his dream of playing at a fourth World Cup finals alive.

The San Siro was always the likely destination for Beckham in January with Major League Soccer in close season hibernation, and while the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder has a number of interested parties he remains committed to a Serie A return.

For the first time since moving to the United States in 2007, Beckham seems set for an extended season with the Galaxy primed for the end-of-season play-offs. On Thursday, they beat Chicago 1-0 to move to the top of the Western Conference with two games remaining in the regular season.

Beckham will have a couple of months to rest before moving back to Italy for a second spell.

England coach Fabio Capello has made it clear he must return to play in Europe to remain in his plans for South Africa.

"There are other options available but none that will stop me going to Milan," the LA Galaxy player told the Mail on Sunday. "It is close to being finalised.

"When I left (Milan), they said they wanted me to come straight back. I had such a marvellous time there. They're a great club."

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Ronaldinho promises to fill Milan's Kaka gap

 

Ronaldinho has vowed to lessen the impact of Kaka's departure by having a "great season" for AC Milan.
The Brazilian playmaker was responding to quotes from owner Silvio Berlusconi over the weekend that called him a "great champion".
Many fans were dismayed at Kaka's high-profile departure but Ronaldinho is vowing to step up his efforts for the Rossoneri and help mount a serious challenge for the Scudetto.
After Milan's comfortable pre-season victory over local side Varese he said: "I want to have a great season and dedicate my efforts to the president.
"I also want to guarantee the fans that I have the right mentality to become a great champion once again."
Ronaldinho had an indifferent campaign last year, making just 16 starts and suffering a slump in form after the Christmas period.
As the club rebuild after coach Carlo Ancelotti's departure, Ronaldinho has also urged the club to sign Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano.
He said: "It would be a great addition, he is a great player and we could form a wonderful trio along with [Alexandre] Pato."


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Milan Don't Need To Buy Any Players – Silvio Berlusconi

Milan president Silvio Berlusconi will anger his own fans with the statement he is in no hurry to sign any new players.

The Rossoneri have been linked to various players this summer, but no major signings have been made as pre-season training starts today.

“We have chosen to look forward, aiming on the renewal,” explained the club’s president to the Gazzetta dello Sport.

“However, our squad remains formidable and therefore I foresee a good season. The fans need to remain calm: it will not be a defeatist mentality for Milan.

“We have great champions like Pato, Ronaldinho and [Andrea] Pirlo, and many young promising players.

“No one in Italy, from the technical point of view, has a squad as strong as ours, not even Inter.

“The objectives? Milan, as always, starts off to win everything, even though there are years which are more lucky or less lucky.

“Reinforcements? The problem is not the names. If on the market some doors open up, someone can arrive, otherwise we’re fine like this. We must not buy at all cost.”

The fans have voiced their disappointment over Milan's transfer efforts through the low sales of season tickets, with reports from Italy stating that the Rossoneri have sold under 1,000 tickets, whereas their rivals Inter have sold over 24,000 so far.


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Real Madrid Ace Kaka: I Will Always Support Milan

Kaka may be a Real Madrid player now, but he will always be a Milan supporter.

The Rossoneri and los Blancos finalised Kaka’s transfer to the Bernabeu on Monday for a reported €67.2 million, leading to the 27-year-old committing his future to the Spanish club for the next six seasons.

But during a press conference in Recife, where Kaka is on international duty with Brazil in preparation for the Confederations Cup, the player insisted that the deal was made in the interest of the Rossoneri, who are struggling to make ends meet in the current economic recession.

And Kaka sent a text message to the Milan Channel yesterday afternoon, reassuring supporters that he will forever carry the Rossoneri in his heart.

“Nothing could ever erase Milan and all the people who have been part of my heart for these six years. I will always support Milan,” read the message.

Kaka arrived at Milan in 2003 from Sao Paulo. During his time in Italy he won a Scudetto, a Supercoppa Italiana, a Champions League, a FIFA Club World Cup, two UEFA Super Cups and claimed the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2007.


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David Beckham convinced me to join Real Madrid - Kaka

 

On joining Real Madrid for a world record £59m, Brazilian playmaker Kaka revealed that England's David Beckham, a former team-mate at AC Milan, convinced him to move to the Spanish captial.

He also said that the current global downturn convinced him now was the right time to switch.

"I can officially say I'm a Real Madrid player," the 27-year-old said, who turned down a move to the Premier League and Manchester City in January. "My professional link with AC Milan finishes now, but my sentimental link will never end.

"I spoke to some friends, like Beckham, who has already played for Real. He said it's a fantastic place to play. I spoke to him this past week and he kept helping me, he said I made a positive choice for my career's growth.

"Real Madrid intend to build a great team, with historic players such as Raul and Iker Casillas. We will make history again, both in Spain and Europe. I guess the sport project is very good.

"Manchester City and Real Madrid are two different clubs with different situations. At that time (January), it was mid-season, I had a strong emotional impact due to the Italian fans requesting me to stay, and I decided to stay.

"Now another chance came up and AC Milan is in a big crisis (financially). For me, the sporting project (at Madrid) is interesting and will be an important boost to continue my career in the highest level.
"I wanted to stay on at Milan, but the world (financial) crisis affected a lot of clubs, especially those like Milan which are businesses.

"So then, I spoke with the Milan directors and we reached the conclusion that the best thing for everybody would be to sell."

Kaka also revealed that new Real president Florentino Perez has been busy "making contact" with potential targets as he looks to revive his 'Galacticos' project.

In Perez's previous stint with the club, he oversaw the acquisitions of global stars of Luis Figo, Ronaldo and David Beckham, as well as Zidane.

The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso, David Villa and Franck Ribery have also been linked to the Spanish capital club since Perez's unopposed election signalled the return of their vast spending.

Kaka continued: "The president (Perez) is already making contact (with potential signings) and is putting together a competitive team, one which will try to once again become champions in Spain and Europe. That's why I chose Madrid.

"They have historic players there already, such as Raul or Casillas. Real Madrid will be an important challenge for me. We're going to win many titles again."

He also revealed that although the deal was only announced last night, it had been in the pipeline for some time, adding: "I wanted this move to be announced sooner. For me it's a relief that it has been announced now, although I have always be 100% focussed on the national side.


"I've been weighing up the offer from Real Madrid a lot. It's an important project for me to continue growing in my career. I'm not going to Real Madrid for money, as I had other offers. But I knew I would only leave Milan to play for Real Madrid.

"Only small details were missing, such as the medical exams I passed this morning. The deal was sealed long time ago".

He also said he hoped to put an end to Barcelona's dominance of Spanish and European football, after the Merengues' arch-rivals swept all before them this season en route to claiming Spain's first league, cup and Champions League treble.

"This will be a tough season at Real Madrid, after all that Messi conquered with Barcelona," he said.

"They're the big favourites and deservedly so. I hope Barcelona's hegemony will end in the coming years. Real Madrid will build a great team to win titles again, as it's the club's history."

Meanwhile he revealed he fell uncomfortable taking on the number five jersey once worn by Zinedine Zidane.
Perez had admitted he would like to see the Brazilian playmaker take on the shirt, but Kaka said he would not feel comfortable doing so.

He said: "Wearing the number five would be a great responsibility. Zidane was a great player, both for Real Madrid and for France, and I wouldn't like to wear the same number as he did.

"We're going to wait a bit before deciding which one to use."

And finally he had words of gratitude to Milan for launching his career in Europe, while he was also elusive about whether he would end his career in Madrid.

"I will be 33 years old by the time the (Madrid) contract ends, with the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 still to come. Lots of things will happen," he said.

"I'm not thinking today in ending my career at 33. I expect to write history there and sign a new contract, who knows, until 35. May be I'll retire then."

He added: "I want to thank Milan, as they were the club who put me on the international scene. They gave me the opportunity to become a big name in Europe.

"I'm happy to leave Milan by the front door, with a lot of friends. It has been very emotional to see what the Milan fans have done for me."



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David Beckham Hopes For Quick AC Milan Return

AC Milan midfielder David Beckham helped his side reach direct qualification to the Champions League as they defeated Fiorentina 2-0 at the Artemio Franchi stadium this afternoon.

This is Beckham’s final match for the Rossoneri before his return to the Los Angeles Galaxy, even though he hopes he will be back in Milan soon.

“Even though today we did not win anything, we have reached the direct qualification to the Champions League,” commented the former Manchester United player to Milan Channel. “Winning today was fundamental, just like being in the Champions League.

“With regards to my future I cannot say anything more than what I said two weeks or two months ago: now I return to Los Angeles for the final part of the season, then we’ll see what happens, but I hope to return soon.

“My thanks goes to everyone, they have all been fantastic with me in making me feel like a part of the team from the first minute and I wish them all the best.

“With Carlo Ancelotti away from Milan, an era comes to an end, extraordinary years come to an end, but wherever he will go to coach, it will be a lucky club to have him.”

The 34-year-old player joined Milan last January and played a total of 18 league games.


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Kaka reiterates Milan stance

AC Milan star Kaka has reiterated that he does not want to leave San Siro, as reports suggest he is set to follow Carlo Ancelotti to Chelsea.

Speculation has suggested that informal talks over a £70million deal have already started as the Blues look to tempt the Brazilian to the Premier League, while returning Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is also a long-term admirer.

Ancelotti's appointment as manager at Stamford Bridge was confirmed on Monday and the Italian is set to begin a three-year contract at the beginning of July with the aim of securing the UEFA Champions League.

It is rumoured that Kaka is top of the 49-year-old's wanted list as he plans tweaks to his inherited, ageing squad, with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich understood to be prepared to spend big this summer.
World record

But Kaka, who broke into the Milan side under former boss Ancelotti, insists he is staying in Italy, telling Gazzetta dello Sport: "I say it for the last time. I don't want to leave Milan."

The playmaker appeared to be on the verge of a world-record switch to Manchester City in the winter transfer window before the deal collapsed as Milan opted out of selling.

Kaka's potential move to Eastlands was shrouded in controversy as it was suggested the player was being forced out of Italy against his wishes.

The 27-year-old has now stated that he will make no further comment upon his future so that there is no confusion over his desire to stay at Milan.

Silent

"In this period I prefer to remain silent because I don't want to be misunderstood," he added.

"To the millions of Milan supporters, I say that I have made my choice. I want to stay."

Kaka admits that he is in a debt of gratitude to Ancelotti after he was offered the opportunity to shine.

"I owe him a lot. He opened the doors for me in Italian football," he concluded.


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Kaka Can Leave Milan For €65m

Kaka patiently awaits questions from journalists during the 2008 FIFA World Player Gala in Zurich (PA)

AC Milan are preparing to tell interested parties that Kaka can leave if they are willing to pay €65 million to help pay off debts that the club accumulated last season.

The Italian giants have been reported to be ready to listen to offers and that could see Florentino Perez seek to secure an early deal to take him to Real Madrid.

Corriere dello Sport state that holding company Fininvest, which is owned by Italy's president and Milan supremo Silvio Berlusconi, does not want to take the debt on board.

With a deficit of €66.8 million from last term, the sale of Kaka would wipe that out in an instant and allow the club to start planning for next term.

Milan already have a replacement for the former Ballon d'Or winner in Yoann Gourcuff, whom they would prevent from joining Bordeaux on a permanent basis after his loan spell at the club.

Kaka was on the verge of joining Manchester City in January before the potential move fell apart, but Milan's willingness to listen to the bid affected their relationship with the player.

Madrid have constantly been linked with the Brazilian after Ramon Calderon included him as one of the players he promised, and failed, to sign in his presidential election manifes


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Ronaldinho: I Will Stay With Milan & Win The Champions League

Ronaldinho’s signing was greeted with much fanfare by Milan fans last summer, however, the 29-year-old has endured a difficult season at the San Siro, despite a bright start to life in the peninsula.
It has been suggested that Manchester City could revive their interest in the former Barcelona ace as he went so close to a move to Eastlands last year, but ‘Dinho’ insists he is settled in Milan.

“I get along well with my team-mates, with the directors and the fans,” he is quoted as saying in La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I don’t plan to leave this shirt. It’s true that I hoped to become champion of Italy with Milan and I am disappointed we didn’t meet our targets. I promise we will win the Scudetto and the Champions League next season.”

Carlo Ancelotti looks poised to join Premier League giants Chelsea this summer and Rossoneri president Silvio Berlusconi has often criticised the coach for having little faith in the Brazilian.

“Is he unhappy? That makes two of us,” concluded ‘Dinho’.

The Brazilian international has started just 16 games in Serie A so far, netting eight goals.

AC Milan denies Real Madrid to sign Brazilian playmaker Kaka

MILAN — Italian giant AC Milan denied Saturday that any deal had been agreed between Kaka and Real Madrid presidential hopeful Florentino Perez that would see the Brazil playmaker move to the Spanish powerhouse.

The club's website carried a statement from Bosco Leite, Kaka's father and legal representative, that any information about a possible deal was unreliable.

"There is no agreement with Real Madrid, and the statement, according to which the player has already signed a contract with the Spanish club, isn't true," Leite said.

Spanish sports newspaper Marca reported Saturday that Perez had negotiated a fee of 63 million euros (C$100 million) for Kaka, who had agreed to sign a five-year contract with an annual salary of eight million euros (C$12.7 million) should Perez regain control of the Spanish club.

"Kaka is still concentrated on the final games of the season and still very tied to Milan. Any information about the career of the athlete is to be considered credible and official only if it comes from his legal representative or from Milan. Any other source of information should be considered unreliable," the Milan website said

According to Marca, all that remained to be agreed between Perez - who oversaw Madrid's 'galactico' policy when he was formerly club president - and Milan was the commission which would be paid to Leite.

Kaka, the 2007 World Player of the Year, said last month he intended to stay with Milan and had not been in contact with Madrid. Earlier this season, Manchester City failed in an attempt to sign the Brazil midfielder after bidding around 110 million euros (C$175 million).

Kaka is said to be just one of many transfer targets for Perez, who announced Thursday that he would stand in next month's poll of club members in a bid to return to the presidency he quit in 2006.

It is standard in Spanish club elections for candidates to organize new signings to encourage members to vote for them.

Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery and Valencia's David Villa are others who Perez reportedly hopes to sign for next season as he attempts to reactivate the galactico policy which brought the likes of Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Ronaldo to Madrid during his first tenure.

Marca said Perez's interest in signing Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo has waned due to his high value on the transfer market and supposed temperamental character.

Perez, the head of Spanish construction giant ACS, aims to revamp a Madrid team which has been eclipsed by rivals Barcelona this season.

The Catalan club, which won the Copa del Rey last Wednesday, would win the Spanish league title later Saturday if Madrid failed to win at Villarreal. Barcelona has also reached the Champions League final, in which it faces United on May 27.

At present, Perez is the only candidate to announce his intention to stand in Madrid's election and there remains the chance he will be unopposed. If so, Perez would begin his second tenure on June 1.

Perez's spell as Madrid president from 2000 to 2006 saw the club winning two league titles and one Champions League. Madrid then suffered its worst trophy drought for over 50 years when it went three seasons without silverware, shuffling through five coaches over that time.

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Ronaldinho Slams Milan Attitude After Serie A Draw With Juventus

Ronaldinho applauding during AC Milan's 2-2 draw with Portsmouth in the UEFA Cup

Milan could have closed the gap on Serie A leaders Inter to five points last night, however, the Diavoli failed to overcome Juventus at the San Siro, despite taking the lead through Clarence Seedorf. Juve hit back just three minutes after the opening goal with a diving header from Vincenzo Iaquinta.

“It was a beautiful match, but unfortunately we did not manage to get the three points we wanted,” Ronaldinho told the club’s official website.

“However, if we work hard we will be able to end the season well. After going ahead, there was a bit of euphoria and we lost our focus. We conceded an equaliser and that demoralised us a little bit.

“This has to serve as a lesson for the future so that we avoid committing this kind of error.”

Milan still trail Inter by seven points with three games to go and the Nerazzurri will be crowned champions if they defeat Siena next Sunday. The Rossoneri will play away to Udinese on Saturday night.

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Galaxy needs new plan of attack

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AC Milan forward Ronaldinho, right, and his teammate, Pato, react following AC Milan's 2-0 victory over Lecce in a Serie A match on Sunday. Ronaldinho is one player the Galaxy could use to help re-build their franchise once David Beckham leaves.

Beckham's late-season entrance might boost attendance, but it's not too soon to start planning buzz-worthy moves for 2010.

By Grahame L. Jones

When November rolls around and David Beckham leaves town for the last time, what is the Galaxy going to do?

That it has to do something has been made painfully obvious by the team's lack of success on the field and at the gate in the first couple of weeks of the new Major League Soccer season.

After three games and going into tonight's match against Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center, the Galaxy is still looking for its first victory of 2009 and has played in front of successively diminishing announced crowds of 18,013, 16,709 and 6,219, the latter for a Tuesday night U.S Open Cup game.

In each case, the figure seemed inflated. There were only 281 in the house half an hour before Tuesday's kickoff.

Last season, with Beckham in tow, Los Angeles averaged 26,009, and whether that was inflated or not, it was still tops in MLS.

Club officials have blamed the drop-off on the economy, but the economy has not stopped the Seattle Sounders from attracting 32,523 and 28,548 for their first two MLS games, or Toronto FC from extending its string of sellout crowds to 31 with an opening-day attendance of 20,658.

Clearly, it is more than just the economy.

Could it be that Beckham is missed -- at the gate if not on the field?

Since the English midfielder has made clear his intention to return to AC Milan after his July-November cameo appearance with the Galaxy this year, it is not too soon for team owner AEG and Coach Bruce Arena to begin planning for 2010.

This week, the hot rumor was that former Italian international Christian Vieri would soon be winging his way to California. Not so, said the Galaxy, emphatically denying a rumor that started in Italy.

Vieri is 35 and would have fit in with Arena's over-30 gang, which now numbers nine with the arrival last week of 35-year-old defender Gregg Berhalter. But Vieri, a free-agent former Inter Milan player with no fewer than 14 clubs on his resume, is six years past his prime and would not have created any buzz in Los Angeles.

There are a couple of Brazilians who could do so and one American who could help the Galaxy on the field, but whether AEG and Arena opt to go after, say, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho or DaMarcus Beasley is, for the moment, only a matter of speculation.

Ronaldo, 32, is playing and scoring goals again, this time for Corinthians in Brazil, but while Beckham's former Real Madrid teammate and friend would no doubt jump at a fat contract dangled in front of him by the Galaxy, he is less likely to do so if Beckham departs as planned.

It also remains to be seen whether Ronaldo can regain the form that made him a World Cup winner in 2002 and the tournament's all-time top goal scorer in 2006.

Ronaldinho, 29, would have a tremendous impact on and off the field and is one player who could instantly raise the profile of MLS. But Beckham's AC Milan teammate is focused on playing in next year's World Cup in South Africa and will not leave Italy before then.

Beasley, meanwhile, is not getting much playing time at Glasgow Rangers and has talked about trying his luck in Spain. Earlier this year, the German club Schalke 04 expressed interest in him, and chances are the U.S. player would prefer to stay in Europe.

But the opportunity to link up again with close friend Landon Donovan could tempt Beasley to California and the Galaxy. The two have a very good on-field understanding, and Arena would be in favor if the price were right.

The trouble is, Beasley, 26, would not create the noise that the Galaxy needs to get the fans back. He won't sell the jerseys or get the turnstiles clicking and, for AEG, that takes precedence over everything.

Meanwhile, if Coach Carlo Ancelotti leaves AC Milan for Chelsea this summer, as reports in Italy and England suggested Thursday, then Beckham and Ronaldinho might have to rethink their own futures and all bets are off.


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