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.

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.

World Cup Update #3: The group stage is over

Here are some important statistics from the group stage of the 2010 World Cup:

• Teams that won all three of their matches: Argentina, Netherlands
• Teams that lost all three of their matches: Cameroon, north Korea
• Teams that allowed no goals in the group stage: Uruguay, Portugal
• Teams that scored no goals in the group stage: Algeria, Honduras

• Most goals scored: Argentina, Portugal (7)
• Most goals allowed: north Korea (12)

• Milan players who have appeared at the World Cup: Zambrotta, Pirlo, Gattuso (Italy); Adiyiah (Ghana); Huntelaar (Netherlands); Onyewu (United States)
• Milan players who have scored at the World Cup: Huntelaar
• Milan players who have not appeared at the World Cup: Thiago Silva (Brazil)

Disturbing summer 2010 transfer rumor #1

Milan To Move For Roma's Philippe Mexes If Thiago Silva Leaves - Report

The Frenchman could be used to replace the Brazilian...

By Rick D'Andrea

Jun 14, 2010 1:01:00 AM

Milan has revealed that Roma defender Philippe Mexescould be brought to the Rossoneri should Thiago Silvaleave for Manchester City.

The Eastlands club has put an offer for the Brazilian in excess of €30 million, with the Diavoli finding it difficult to refuse, according to Itasportpress.it.

Silva has also requested that the side raise his salary, in order for him to stay.

Mexes was already a target of the Italian giants, but the Frenchman recently stated that it was his intention to stay at the Giallorossi despite seeing little game time during the second half of the season.

Match report: Milan 5 - Genoa 2

• Goals scored: Sculli 25', Ronaldinho (penalty) 32', Thiago Silva 38', Borriello 48', Borriello 60', Huntelaar (penalty) 74', Suazo 79'
• What happened: Genoa scored first and last but still lost badly. Milan had three penalties-- Ronaldinho missed the first one, made the second, and Huntelaar made the last.
• Milan players who made their first appearances in a long time: Gattuso, Jankulovski, Beckham
• Milan players who were hit in the face: Nesta, Antonini, Ronaldinho
• Number of Milan penalties that were not deserved: Zero
• Why Huntelaar took the last penalty: Beckham and Ronaldinho were insisting that each other take it-- Ambrosini stepped in and gave the ball to Huntelaar. (At least that's how it looked to me). It is widely rumored that Huntelaar will be leaving Milan this month.
• Player of the game: Ambrosini-- he repeatedly charged the defenders in the box with the ball. He won the first two of Milan's penalty kicks.
• Nicest goal: Borriello's second-- a twisting bicycle kick that just snuck in at the post. (Replays showed that he was barely offside; however, the linesman missed the call.)
• My favorite goal: Thiago Silva's-- chaos in the box followed by a goal by a defender
• Who Milan play next: Juventus
• Milan players the announcer said were unable to play due to injury: Pato and Seedorf
• What this match teaches us: Take the ball and head toward the goal.

Above: Huntelaar takes his penalty kick.

Click here for highlights.

Match report: Milan 0 - Palermo 2

• Goals scored: Miccoli 49', Bresciano 62'
• What happened: I am not sure, because this match was (thankfully) not broadcast on television. Milan apparently gave up two goals and did not score any. If you must watch the highlights, click here.
• Other bad news: Thiago Silva (who was injured mid-week against Zurich) may be out until early January.
• What this match teaches us: Nothing in particular.

Match report: Lazio 1 - Milan 2

• Goals scored: Thiago Silva 21', Pato 35', Thiago Silva 64' (own goal)
• What happened: Milan scored two first half goals, both on headers. They let Lazio back in the match in the second half when they scored an own goal. It rained very, very hard off and on throughout the match.
• Why it is good that Thiago Silva scored today: He has played well this year (except for brief moments against both teams from Rome). He has almost scored twice in recent weeks (an incorrectly disallowed goal against Real Madrid in Madrid and hitting the crossbar against Parma). He deserved this goal. (See photos above and below of the goal and the celebration afterwards)

• How the own goal took place: Zarate shot from the top of the box. The ball hit Oddo and ricocheted right into the running feet of Thiago Silva, who neatly rolled into his own goal from ten yards out.
• How Lazio reacted to the own goal: Lazio was rejuvenated by the own goal and had several excellent shots. Only fantastic goaltending by Dida kept them from scoring again. Lazio has had a terrible season so far this year and would have really liked to come back to tie or win this game.

• Number of Milan players who used to be captain of Lazio: One (Oddo)
• Number of Lazio players who had lengthy careers at Milan: One (Cristian Brocchi)
• Number of Lazio players who have names that rhyme with another Lazio player: Two (Cristian Brocchi and Tommaso Rocchi)
• Number of well-known former Inter players who now play for Lazio: One (Julio Cruz)
• Number of Inzaghi brothers who played today: One (Filippo-- he managed to pick up a yellow card for shirt pulling within minutes of coming on as a substitute. On the bright side, he was only called for offsides once. Note: The photo above is not of Inzaghi.)
• What this match teaches us: Milan have become very dangerous even though they still do not seem to have put all the pieces of the puzzle together. They are now in third place.

Above: Pato celebrates his goal.

Below: Leonardo congratulates his players at the end of the match.

For highlights, watch the video below:

Match report: Milan 2 - Roma 1

• Goals scored: Menez 3', Ronaldinho 57' (penalty), Pato 67'
• Number of Milan players who made absolutely terrible, failed back passes to the keeper that resulted in Roma goals: 1 (Thiago Silva)
• Number of Milan players sent off: 1 (Ambrosini)
• Number of semi-dubious penalties awarded to Milan by referee Roberto Rosetti: 1 (Burdisso on Nesta)
• Number of teams that did not deserve to win: 2 (AC Milan and AS Roma)
• Number of loud explosions: 1
• Where you might find Pato these days: Near midfield, over by the right touchline, making everybody wonder what in the world he is doing over there. Probably only Leonardo knows.
• Place Milan are now in: 8th
• What this match teaches us: Sometimes teams play badly and still manage to win.
• Questions for further research: Does this team have any chance at all in Wednesday's Champions League match against Real Madrid?

For highlights, watch the video below:

(Un)happy birthday, Thiago Silva

AC Milan defender Thiago Silva (above right) celebrates his 25th birthday today. Unfortunately, during practice at Milanello, he suffered what is being described as a "muscular strain to his right leg," and may miss the next three games (tomorrow, Sunday, and next Wednesday).

Below: Ronaldinho, Pato, and Thiago Silva