If you have a problem…if no one else can help…and if you can find them…maybe you can hire…The A (C Milan) Team!
The new year was still some weeks away when news first broke that AC Milan was looking increasingly likely to be football mercenary Carlos Tevez’s next destination, with the Italian club attempting to take advantage of the drastic fallout between Manchester City and their player. Milan are said to be keen on an initial loan deal, leading to a permanent move, however City have been adamant they will only consider a full transfer – which will probably end up being less than the players true market value; an area in which the Milanese have become experts in.
Looking good in red and black. Tevez could be AC Milan's latest coup
If the transfer occurs either way, AC Milan will have pulled off yet another tremendous coup during an incredible 17 month period which has saw them wheel and deal, capturing some of the biggest names in Europe – becoming home to footballs misfits! A merry band of mercenaries, bad-boys, and cast-offs who have either fell out with their previous clubs, or have been unwanted after failing to live up to their reputations and high price-tags – undesirables! But undesirables with great talent.
…and if you can find them…
Just look at the names they have managed to acquire, taking advantage of any acrimonious situation that has arisen between club and player: mean and moody Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Barcelona, bad-boy Antonio Cassano at Sampdoria, big-money flop Robinho at Manchester City, unwanted and injury-prone Alberto Aquilani at Liverpool. Add to this the somewhat surprising capture of the blossoming Kevin-Prince Boateng from Genoa (briefly) in a loan-turned-co-ownership deal, and now the possibility of Argentine mercenary Tevez, that’s quite the collection of misfits all crammed into one very high profile squad. Imagine having to manage that lot…
An undesirable bunch with exquisite talent
If you have a problem…if no one else can help…
The Rossoneri hadn’t won the Scudetto for 6 years and they desperately wanted it back. Massimiliano Allegri was brought in at the start of the 2010-2011 campaign – the same summer Ibrahimovic, Robinho and Boateng all arrived – and charged to do just that. Until then Allegri’s biggest coaching role had been with Cagliari for a two year stint where he won the Panchina d’Oro (Golden bench) award in each of his seasons. As a player, his highlight was probably representing Napoli – very briefly. In both a playing and coaching career of relatively little top flight experience, this makes Allegri’s achievements as AC Milan coach all the more remarkable. Not only did he manage to win the Scudetto in his very first season, he did so playing (or attempting for the most part) an attacking brand of football. What is perhaps most overlooked however has been his ability to manage all the egos, huge personalities and fiery temperaments that have been assembled in his playing squad – the undesirables! Maybe the ‘A’ in A-Team should stand for ‘Allegri’.
…maybe you can hire…
Allegri deserves more credit for the way he's handled some huge personalities
As Allegri reaches the halfway stage of his second season in charge of the Italian giants he perhaps enters the most testing time of his regime. Milan had a slow start to the current campaign but have managed to claw back a resurgent Juventus’ lead at the top of the table, going into the Christmas break level on points. However, there are some concerns that need addressing. Allegri’s own contract is an issue with negotiations for a new deal seemingly stalling. His current deal runs until the end of this season and whilst there is an extension on the table, as usual, money seems to be the sticking point. Also, a key member of the squad is alleged to have voiced his unhappiness at not being selected often enough. Surprisingly it is not one of the aforementioned ‘undesirables’, but Alexander Pato. With PSG sniffing around for the Brazilian and the possibility of Tevez coming in, competition for attacking positions may well increase, however Pato is a favourite of club president Silvio Berlusconi and Allegri himself has voiced his desire to see Pato stay.
Speaking of Tevez there have also been conflicting reports coming out of Italy that he would be welcomed by some members of the squad – most notably Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is close to the man who Tevez would most likely replace – the ill Antonio Cassano. The Corriere dello Sport claiming the Swede stated: ‘Tevez is good, but I miss Cassano!’
Finally, and sticking with the Corriere dello Sport, amongst other Italian newspapers, it is claimed that none other than Crown Prince of football bad-boys Mario Balotelli has stated he ‘is in contact’ with AC Milan regarding a possible future move.
Well, I suppose there’s still room in the A (C Milan) Team for their very own howling mad Mario! Good luck with that Massimiliano!
Rossoneri fan: Mario Balotelli
