STILL HUNGRY

19/07/2011

"Nothing has changed since last season. There is the same desire to win and the same determination. Now we must not give up and although we want to win the league title we want to win in Europe and continue to do so in Italy, this is also the message from the coach. We are always hungry for victory and playing at Milan it is normal for all players to always want to win."

MILAN - Gianluca Zambrotta spoke today during the Nutrilite-Milan press conference. Here are the main statements from the Rossoneri full-back:

ON NUTRILITE AND MILAN LAB: "Being 34 years I have had the chance to play in big teams in Barcelona and also I must say that I have never found a structure such as Nutrilite combined with Milan Lab, which follow the player from a to z for the recovery of any injury to the deficiencies in food and minerals such as iron, fruit and vegetables. I think it's a perfect match between Milan Lab and the Nutrilite and not only for me, but all my team-mates are happy with the work done so far."

ON NEXT SEASON: "Nothing has changed since last season. There is the same desire to win and the same determination. Now we must not give up and although we want to win the league title we want to win in Europe and continue to do so in Italy, this is also the message from the coach. We are always hungry for victory and playing at Milan it is normal for all players to always want to win. This is the mentality that we must have, a winning mentality is crucial.
"I must say that in the Champions League it will be even more difficult to win because Barcelona have been the strongest team in recent years and have expressed the best football over the last 20 years. We can play with everyone and with a little luck we can get to the quarters, then try to get further. It was strange that Barça could not win despite always having had an outstanding team. I think that is a stellar team from every point of view."

OTHER ANSWERS: "I think it's different playing for Barcelona and the national team. Messi plays in a scheme that is already clear where they play for him, while in Argentina it is a bit different. Brazil and Argentina are out. It can happen to any international side: Italy also went out in the first round in 2010. I had the misfortune of losing a championship in 2000 on the last day and on last day I started forgetting everything. We are used to having exceptional or disappointing seasons, but this is football.
"I always said those who played with me in those two years at Juventus won the Scudetto on the field and I can feel it is mine."
"Ibrahimovic and Cassano look in good shape, I saw them this morning, they worked hard and they want to start again and they weill. I saw them with the right spirit.
"For the derby in Beijing are working under Tognaccini at Milan Lab. They know what the best preparation should be and know how to handle such a delicate preparation. We have utmost confidence in their work.
"With the arrival of Taiwo there is more competition. Competition is not my problem, neither is it for any of the other Milan players. Competition is positive and it ensures that you are always motivated, one must always be ready." ( acmilan.com )

Ganso wants to join Milan - agent

AC Milan are leading the race to snap up Brazil international Ganso, according to the player's agent, as he moves closer to a deal with the Italian champions.

Ganso, 21, is rated as one of the top young players in the game and is keen to move on from Santos after being linked with a big money move to Europe.

Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Inter Milan have all been credited with interest, but Gaetano Paolillo expects his client to seal a summer switch to the red half of Milan after rejecting talk of a move to Paris.

"I don't know where this information of an offer from Paris Saint-Germain has come from. It is pure invention," Gaetano Paolillo told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "We are not interested in PSG's petrodollars. Ganso wants to play in Italy with AC Milan.

"He wants to play against the likes of Inter, Roma and Juventus and he is fascinated by the Italian league. In the next few weeks we will meet with Milan directors to see if the transfer can happen." ( soccernet.espn.go.com )

Napoli name Hamsik asking price

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has placed a €100 million (£88 million) price tag on Marek Hamsik.

GettyImagesMarek Hamsik has made clear his desire to join AC Milan

Hamsik, 23, recently admitted he would welcome a move to AC Milan, one of the clubs reportedly keen to sign him this summer.

"The indecent proposal I referred to (earlier this month) would be of €100 million," De Laurentiis said. "Otherwise, Hamsik will remain here."

Hamsik, who joined Napoli from Brescia in 2007, is under contract with the Serie A club for another four years.

He scored 11 goals in 37 league appearances to help Napoli finish third last season and qualify for the Champions League.

Luis Fabiano will cost Milan €20m - agent

Seville striker Luis Fabiano could sign for AC Milan for around €20m, according to the Brazilian's agent.

The Rossoneri had claimed the deal was dead after an offer of €14m was rejected by the Spanish club but, Jose Fuentes, the striker's agent, insists a agreement can still be reached.

"We are waiting for Milan to return as their first offer was a little too low," Fuentes told Tutto Mercato. "Milan must push a little more. If not, the negotiations could continue for some time."

With Seville holding out for €30m and both clubs having wildly different valuations of the 28-year-old, Milan's lawyer Leandro Cantamessa said earlier on Tuesday that the deal was virtually dead.

"We made an offer and they said no and so we had to revoke our offer," Cantamessa explained. "I don't think there will be another offer for now."

But Fabiano's representative seems desperate to revive the deal and as well as going public with the desired transfer fee the agent also revealed that Milan had been granted exclusive access to his client.

"The market value of the player is around €20m," Fuentes said. "This seems to me to be the right figure."

"Milan remain the only club we are speaking to. We have given them our word and we intend to respect that."

An added complication to the deal is that the Italian club must also negotiate with investment group RIO, who own 65% of the former Sao Paulo player's rights.

soccernet.com

LEGA CALCIO: SERIE A 2009/2010 DATES

MILAN - The Lega Calcio announced yesterday the dates related to the 2009/10 season. The next Serie A season will start on August 23 and will end on Sunday May 16, 2010. Four mid-week rounds will be held: September 23, Octover 28, March 24 and before on January 6, when the Christmas break will be over after the last round on December 20. There will also be three breaks due to national team commitments for the World Cup qualifiers of 2010: September 6, October 11 and November 15. acmilan.com