GALLIANI OUTLINES TRANSFER STRATEGY

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has outlined the club's transfer scenario for the summer following Friday's annunal general meeting with the shareholders.

The club announced a 38 per cent increase in profits for 2009 compared to 2008. Earnings for the year up to December 2009 were €327.6 million compared to 2008 results of €237.9m.

It seems Kaka's sale to Real Madrid last year has also curbed debts, down 85 per cent on 2008. Milan confirmed the current debt stands at €9.8m compared to the previous results of €66.8m.

With results in the briefcase, Galliani explained there would be no major sales from the club and, with that, no major arrivals as transfer allowances are docked.

"We will not be selling any stars. Certainly not Pato, certainly not Thiago Silva, Certainly not Ronaldinho, Huntelaar and Borriello," he told the press.

"Silvio Berlusconi loves Milan, but he will not spend €810m in five years like Inter did."

GALLI TO SUCCEED LEONARDO?

It now seems increasingly likely that Leo will leave Milan at the end of this season and return to Brazil to be closer to his family.

He is also being linked with the Brazil job, which should become available after the World Cup when Dunga's contract expires.

Silvio Berlusconi apparently named Galli as his preferred candidate during a dinner with a number of Italian senators earlier this week.

When asked about the incident, Adriano Galliani said: “If the President said so… I see Filippo every day, but I see him in charge of our youth sector.”

Galli's stock has risen in recent weeks as Milan want to focus more and more on bringing young players through the ranks.

However, the question now is who would replace him in charge of the youth sector, as Paolo Maldini, one of the names put forward, is keen to stay out of football for a while longer.

MALDINI CALLS FOR INVESTMENT

Milan have implemented a number of cost-cutting initiatives over the last year, attempting to slash the wage bill and sign players on free transfers.

Milan currently lie third in Serie A, but are all but mathematically out of the title race, as a seven-point gap separates Milan from leaders Roma with four games remaining this season.

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Maldini said: “We need to invest. It's the only way Milan will stay at the top.”

The 41-year-old who retired last year also denied reports that he is about to return to the club as a director.

“I only just stopped playing. I am still too young as a director. Galliani and I have seen each other. No problem exists at the moment.

“I am taking a year out,” he concluded.

Sampdoria 2 - 1 Milan

Scorers: 20' Borriello, 54' Cassano (penalty), 92' Pazzini.
 
SAMPDORIA (4-4-2): Storari; Zauri, Lucchini, Rossi, Ziegler; Semioli, Palombo, Poli (79' Tissone), Guberti (67' Mannini); Cassano, Pazzini.   Subs not used:  Guardalben, Scepovic, Regini, Cacciatore, Testardi.
Coach: Del Neri

MILAN (4-2-1-3): Dida; Abate, Bonera, Thiago Silva, Antonini; Gattuso, Ambrosini (47' Zambrotta); Seedorf; Mancini (60' Oddo), Borriello, Ronaldinho.   Subs not used:  Abbiati, Inzaghi, Huntelaar, Jankulovski, Albertazzi.
Coach: Leonardo

Yellow Cards: Abate, Ambrosini, Lucchini, Poli, Tissone, Borriello.   Red Cards: Bonera.

COMEBACK FALLS SHORT

Milan 2- 2 Catania

Scorers: 12' Lopez, 43' Ricchiuti, 48' & 80' Borriello.

MILAN (4-2-1-3): Dida; Abate, Thiago Silva, Favalli (63' Flamini), Antonini; Pirlo, Ambrosini; Seedorf (74' Mancini); Ronaldinho, Borriello, Huntelaar (74' Inzaghi). Subs not used: Roma, Oddo, Zambrotta, Gattuso.
Coach: Leonardo

CATANIA (4-3-3): Andujar; Alvarez, Spolli, Terlizzi, Capuano; Ricchiuti (72' Delvecchio), Carboni (61' Ledesma), Biagianti; Izco (83' Potenza), Lopez, Mascara. Subs not used: Campagnolo, Bellusci, Morimoto, Moretti.
Coach: Mihajlovic

Yellow Cards: Ambrosini, Mascara, Carboni, Pirlo, Alvarez, Borriello.

Milan 2- 2 Catania

Scorers: 12' Lopez, 43' Ricchiuti, 48' & 80' Borriello.

MILAN (4-2-1-3): Dida; Abate, Thiago Silva, Favalli (63' Flamini), Antonini; Pirlo, Ambrosini; Seedorf (74' Mancini); Ronaldinho, Borriello, Huntelaar (74' Inzaghi).   Subs not used:  Roma, Oddo, Zambrotta, Gattuso.
Coach: Leonardo

CATANIA (4-3-3): Andujar; Alvarez, Spolli, Terlizzi, Capuano; Ricchiuti (72' Delvecchio), Carboni (61' Ledesma), Biagianti; Izco (83' Potenza), Lopez, Mascara.   Subs not used:  Campagnolo, Bellusci, Morimoto, Moretti.
Coach: Mihajlovic

Yellow Cards: Ambrosini, Mascara, Carboni, Pirlo, Alvarez, Borriello.

LEONARDO PONDERS FUTURE

Leonardo is thinking hard about his Milan future, and, if he doesn't get a substantial transfer allowance in the summer, he will walk out, according to reports.

The coach has already been linked with the Brazil national job after the World Cup, but his future doesn't hang on that one peg. He wants guarantees from the club that he will be granted more power and influence on the transfer market.

Leonardo wants to play an active role in who comes and goes from San Siro, rather than let the directors dicatate who he can and cannot sign.

Also, he is hoping for a bigger budget to spend on players, a rarity at Milan in recent times. Chief executive Adriano Galliani has made it clear that the days of grandiose spending are long gone.

In any case, Leonardo wants a power-sharing deal, or he will reconsider his days in Italy, aware of reported interest from Brazil.