Transfer rumor #1 - summer 2012 edition

For some reason, in the last one or two dozen hours, the internet has decided that AC Milan are selling Thiago Silva (pictured below) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (pictured further below) to the French club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). 

It is possible that the internet has decided to believe this ridiculous rumor because of the statement by AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi that the two players have, in fact, been sold. We will keep you posted.

Ibrahimovic and his big feet

Earlier this month, former Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi (pictured below) got into an argument with Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic live on Italian television. The reason for their disagreement was Sacchi's joking about Ibrahimovic scoring a goal because of his big feet. (For the record, Ibrahimovic wears a US men's size 13.)

The thing is, however, Sacchi may have a point. In both of Milan's last two games, Ibrahimovic scored goals that a player with smaller feet (or shorter legs) might not have.

The goal versus Lazio--

The goal versus Genoa--

The argument--

Milan 4 - Lecce 0: Milan are in first place! Here are pictures.

Above: Thiago Silva scores.

Below: Inzaghi is excited after scoring late to make it 4-0.

Below: This photo is from last season, against Napoli, I believe.

Below: They haven't assigned Ibrahimovic a number yet. He got to watch the match up in the stands with Berlusconi and Galliani. Unfortunately, no photographs seem to be available at this time.

Click here to read more.

More announcements from AC Milan

SILVIO BERLUSCONI’S ANNOUNCEMENT

8/28/2010

MILANELLO – President Silvio Berlusconi arrived at Milanello by helicopter at 19.30 CET, met coach Massimiliano Allegri and his staff. Then he visited the players and informed them about the acqusition of Ibrahimovic. Later on President Berlusconi was called by Adriano Galliano, who then handed over the phone to Ibrahimovic, too, thus the President could talk to the Swedish player personally. After their conversation all the players applauded their new teammate. At 20.20 CET the President left Milanello.

A.C. MILAN OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

8/28/2010

MILAN – A.C. MILAN announces the acquisition of the player Zlatan Ibrahimovic from F.C. Barcelona, through a free loan with the option to purchase the athlete’s playing rights for € 24 million at the end of the season 2010-2011. The Swedish champion will go through the medical exams tomorrow morning, before signing the contract that will tie him to the Rossonero club for four years.

More official announcements from Milan

Regarding the UEFA Champions League draw, in which Milan grouped with Real Madrid, Ajax, and AJ Auxerre:

ALLEGRI: ‘Group of death’

8/26/2010

MILAN – Milan coach Massimo Allegri’s comments about the Champions League draw: ‘Our group and that of Inter is certainly the most difficult one. Both of us will face tough and well-prepared teams. Obviously, playing against Real Madrid is exciting, it’s a fascinating match-up. The San Siro and the Santiago Bernabeu will be sold-out as a spectacle is guaranteed. Ajax and Auxerre advanced through the preliminaries making a great impression, they are opponents to be feared. We have to play all these games always maintaining high concentration and full fitness. It’s a group of death, but we’ll play like Milan.’

Regarding the possible transfer of Zlatan Ibrahimovic:

GALLIANI: ‘We postpone everything until tomorrow’

8/26/2010

MILAN – Milan CEO Adriano Galliani’scomments after the meeting held in Barcelona with blaugrana president Sandro Rosell: “We have been chatted and discussed the terms. We know Barcelona’s position and now we’ll consider it. We postpone things until tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, after all the transfer window is open until Tuesday. I’ll stay here, I won’t go to Monte Carlo and I think I won’t come to the San Siro for the match on Sunday evening, either. Our position and that of Barcelona is very clear. We’ll go to the bitter ends for Ibrahimovic. I’d say now we have a 50% chance of getting him. In the meantime the eventual alternative would be Robinho I’d like to point out that Borriello will stay at Milan, while as for Huntelaar, we are in negotiations with another team. We’ll see. Now I’ll talk to Ibrahimovic, as I was authorised by president Rosell’.

One more transfer rumor

WE WILL TRY

8/25/2010 8:23:00 PM

Adriano Galliani has been speaking from Barcelona on the negotiations to bring Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Milan which are ongoing.

(In the photo: ADRIANO GALLIANI IN BARCELONA TODAY)

MILAN – Speaking to Milan Channel from Barcelona, Adriano Galliani takes stock of the situation on the meeting with Barcelona and the negotiations that are underway for Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

“Negotiations will continue tomorrow. Tomorrow at noon I have an appointment with the president of Barcelona. Let's see. The negotiations are very complex, very difficult, very expensive, but the relationship with Sandro Rosell is really good and he is very nice. The will of Barcelona is to sell the player to Milan, the availability of the player also like that. There is a lot of money to overcome and this is the difficulty.

“But I would point out that there are not any other moves being made by Milan. There is Borriello, there is Huntelaar. I often see in the papers that they are part of the transfer, but there is no truth in that. We are here to try to take Ibrahimovic to Milan, that’s all. There are other hypotheses on the table.

“I will not deceive anyone but I will not even say that we do it for sure. I will try and that’s why I am here, I do not move, even it means not going to Milan against Lecce on Sunday. I do all that is in my ability and capacity to try to bring this great champion to Milan. It is very difficult.

"What effect has made me to see Ibra at the stadium? The effect is as great as always, a great champion who has absolutely given his willingness to come to Milan. Now we must solve the problem.”

Champions League update: Arsenal 2 - Barcelona 2 (first leg)

This game had everything-

• An early bombardment of scoring chances by Barcelona (only some of which are shown in the video)
• Two nice goals by Ibrahimovic
• Goals by Theo Walcott and Cesc Fabregas
• Three players who will miss the second leg due to suspensions-- Fabregas, Pique, and Puyol
• Fabregas fracturing his shin while taking the game-tying penalty kick

A soccer highlight

I wish Milan had a player who could do something like this (just not Ibrahimovic).