AC Milan general spiel

[The MAN]

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[Lombardiamia]

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[The MAN]

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[RomaShield27]

Cafu Denies Quit Rumour

Milan veteran Cafu has rejected the admission of President Silvio Berlusconi that this is set to be his last season at the club before he possibly retires. Cafu will turn 38 at the end of the campaign and with is contract running out at San Siro the consensus is that the Brazilian legend will finally hang up his boots. "The purchase of Zambrotta will be important because in June, Maldini, Cafu and Favalli will leave,â€

[RomaShield27]

Soccer-Paloschi joins list of exciting youngsters in Serie

MILAN, Feb 11 () - AC Milan striker Alberto Paloschi become the latest teenager to make an immediate impact on Italian soccer after taking just 18 seconds to score on his Serie A debut.

The 18-year-old sealed Milan's 1-0 win after coming on as a substitute against Siena on Sunday.

Brazil's Alexandre Pato, Paloschi's 18-year-old team mate, has netted four goals since arriving at Milan at the start of the year and veteran striker Filippo Inzaghi, 34, believes the future of the European champions is in good hands.

"With this lad and the other youngsters we have, we are well set for 10 years in attack," Inzaghi told reporters.

Italian Paloschi said playing upfront with the world's foremost 'fox in the box' was a dream.

"It was beautiful to play with Inzaghi. Since I was little I've been inspired by him, not for the goals, but for the energy he puts in every match. I always listen to his advice," he said.

The youth team striker came on as a 63rd-minute substitute with Milan down to the bare bones upfront because of injuries to Kaka and Pato. Ronaldo also went off at halftime after looking well off the pace in his latest injury comeback.

The youngster's verve contrasted markedly with the struggling Brazilian and he scored the quickest debut goal in Serie A with a superb finish into the corner from the edge of the box.

An ageing Milan side including 39-year-old Paolo Maldini, 37-year-old Cafu and 36-year-old Serginho were struggling to break down Siena until the youngster's introduction.

After recovering from a shaky first half of the season, Milan are just two points behind fourth-placed Fiorentina and can move into a Champions League spot if they beat Livorno in Wednesday's game in hand.

Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti, whose son Davide is also in the youth ranks at the San Siro, now has to decide whether to play Paloschi on Wednesday.

Inter Milan counterpart Roberto Mancini had a similar dilemma last month when his 17-year-old forward Mario Balotelli notched a stunning double in the Italian Cup quarter-final win over Juventus.

Mancini chose to be cautious with Balotelli and sent him to play in a youth championship, where he has been banging in the goals, rather than overexpose him too early.

[RobHood]

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Ronaldo to retire?
Tuesday 12 February, 2008

There are rumours in Brazil that Milan’s injury-plagued striker Ronaldo may quit football. The 31-year-old missed the start of the season due to a thigh problem and sought treatment in Brazil, which put a great strain on El Fenomeno’s relationship with the Milan medical team. The Selecao star returned to action in Week 18’s 5-2 win over Napoli and bagged a brace, but his problems resurfaced when he limped off at half-time against Siena last weekend. Ronnie will certainly miss tomorrow night’s game against Livorno and could be forced to sit out the weekend’s fixture against Parma and even the Champions League encounter with Arsenal in London.

With his contract expiring this summer, Ronaldo had been determined to earn a new deal, but his chances of doing so are fading with each week he spends in the stands. The emergence of Alberto Paloschi and the impressive form of Alexandre Pato has seen Ronaldo’s future at the club called into question and there are reports that he has become increasingly depressed by his situation. While there are suggestions that Ronaldo will hang his boots up, sources in Brazil insist that the three-time FIFA World Player of the Year will opt to join Flamengo in the summer to play out the rest of his career in his homeland.