AC Milan duo lift Brazil

Milan stars Alexandre Pato and Ronaldinho were pivotal as Brazil’s Olympic team beat Vietnam 2-0 in a friendly.

The Selecao’s final warm-up match was a tepid affair and Brazil looked far from their best as they struggled to victory.

Pato opened the scoring after just five minutes when he was played through by new teammate Ronaldinho.

The young gun looked cool as he ran on to Dinho’s through ball and beat a defender to the ball to slot home.

Milan newcomer Ronaldinho continued to play impressive football and stayed on for the full 90 minutes, but the second goal came courtesy of a bullet from Thiago Neves.

Jo replaced Pato after 70 minutes and ‘The Duck’ went off to applause from Coach Carlos Dunga.

Abbiati remains realistic

Goalkeeper Christian Abbiati was Milan’s hero in the Trofeo TIM, but he isn’t letting a stellar night go to his head.

After spending last season on loan to Atletico Madrid, Abbiati was on the brink of joining Palermo this summer but he refused the transfer to fight Nelson Dida and Zeljko Kalac for the Rossoneri gloves.

The 31-year-old made a compelling case for the No 1 shirt during the Trofeo TIM on Tuesday night when he helped the Diavolo beat city rivals Inter on penalties after an impressive 45 minutes.

“I’m satisfied with the way I played,” Abbiati said. “The important thing is to play well, call my defence and speak a lot on the pitch.

“The penalty shoot-out was part of the job, but I was also lucky.

“Before the game my finger was hurting but then everything went well and I hope that I won’t have any problems in the future.”

In spite of his excellent evening, Abbiati is aware that he will have to fight hard to earn regular football this season but believes he will be given a chance to show his ability.

“As far as becoming first-choice ‘keeper is concerned, I think Milan have three strong options and it won’t be easy for the Coach to decide, but there should be space for everyone.

“This is a very good Rossoneri team and we need to prove that on the pitch. We need to be in the right condition and try and start the season well.”

Sevilla Edge Milan In Moscow

The Andalucians head to the final thanks to that solitary goal, although the margin of victory arguably should have been greater after a fine first half for the boys in white.

Despite losing Dani Alves, Seydou Keita and Christian Poulsen during the summer, Sevilla looked the part early on, with new signing Romaric looking particularly active as he tested Abbiati early on.

Luis Fabiano was also on form, setting up Navas for a goalbound shot that had to be hacked clear by Kaladze.

Three minutes after the break Sevilla were in the lead. Gattuso headed goalward a curving Maresca cross with Abbiati powerless to react.

Milan, meanwhile, struggled to make their prescene felt in the second period. Kaka largely toiled, while Paloschi was starved of service up front. The game drew to a 1-0 conclusion thus.

Milan: Abbiatti; Oddo, Maldini, Kaladze, Zambrotta; Ambrosini, Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf, Kaká; Paloschi.
Used subs: Jankulowski, Digao, Brocchi, Favalli, Antonini y Bonnera.

Sevilla: Palop; F.Navarro, Squillaci, Prieto, Konko; Navas, Renato, Romarik, Maresca; Adriano y L.Fabiano.
Used subs:Capel, Mosquera y Koné.

Capello: Milan To Win Scudetto

England national team manager Fabio Capello is tipping Milan to win this year’s Scudetto, and says that Ronaldinho has found his perfect environment following his summer move from Barcelona.
This year’s Serie A season is promising to be the most exciting of recent years, with four, if not five, teams in with a chance of winning the Scudetto.

Capello believes that Milan are the favourites for the Scudetto, and he has commented on the other major teams, while also passing judgement on Marcello Lippi following his return to the Azzurri hotseat.

"Ronaldinho has found the ideal environment to be reborn,” said Capello.

“Now it is Milan for the Scudetto. Fiorentina are not yet ready, but they are the team who intrigue me most and they can finish near the top of the league.

“Juve have good balance, are strong in all departments, and Poulsen is a good addition.

“Totti has reason to say that Roma need some more acquisitions. Mutu would have been perfect.

“The player who could explode this season is Cassano, but it depends on him. We must give time to Mourinho.

“As for Lippi, he has a great desire, but Italy must be careful of Trapattoni's Ireland."

The Azzurri have been drawn in the same World Cup group as the Republic of Ireland, who are managed by Italian coaching legend Giovanni Trapattoni.

Anthony Sormani

Ancelotti On Two New Uruguayan Recruits

Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti is anticipating an even Serie A title race this coming season, while he also comments on the club’s two recent Uruguayan recruits.
The Rossoneri's pre-season preparations received a boost on Tuesday night when they emerged victorious in the annual Trofeo Tim, defeating both Juventus and Inter on penalties.

The tournament appeared to suggest that this coming Serie A season will be an exciting one, with Roma and Fiorentina also ready to challenge too.

"I think the next league season will be much more balanced compared to last year because all the teams have done good things on the transfer market and the quality has definitely improved,” said Ancelotti in the build-up to this week’s Moscow Tournament.

The Rossoneri will take on Sevilla, Chelsea and hosts Lokomotiv Moscow in the annual competition.

Ancelotti has also confirmed that new Uruguayan recruits Tabare Viudez and Mathias Cardaccio will train with the team. The former is a 19-year-old midfielder who has arrived from Nacional Montevideo. The latter, also a midfielder, is expected to soon complete his transfer from Defensor Sporting.

"The Uruguayans will train with us,” said Carletto.

“Cardacio is a national team player. Viudez, meanwhile, is an '89 player, he's a bit younger.

“They will train with us and then we will see in twenty days if he will train with the Primavera or if he'll stay with us."

Roberto Rossi

Borriello out for two months

Marco Borriello will be out of action for up to two months after tests revealed damage to the meniscus ligament.

The Milan striker sustained an injury during training last week and was sent to Antwerp for a consultation with specialist Professor Marc Martens.

Tests confirmed the external meniscus ligament in his right knee was damaged and will require keyhole surgery, to be performed tomorrow.

Borriello will be sidelined until the end of September, but it is unlikely the Rossoneri will go back on to the transfer market.

The club has already confirmed it will keep hold of Alberto Paloschi instead, as he was set to join Torino on loan.

Borriello and Pippo Inzaghi are both injured, while Kaka is recovering from knee surgery and Alexandre Pato and Ronaldinho are at the Olympics.

Milan Go For Sheva After Borriello Injury?

Borriello suffered a knee injury in training on Thursday, and having had an X-ray exam the player will now travel to Antwerp on Wednesday for a specialist visit with renowned medic, Professor Marc Martens.

It is not yet known what damage Borriello has done to his right knee, but the early signs are that he could be out of action for a considerable amount of time.

This has plunged Milan into something of a striker crisis. Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato are away on Olympic duty with Brazil, Kaka is recovering from a knee operation, while Pippo Inzaghi is also struggling with injury.

Alberto Paloschi’s proposed loan move to Torino has now been put on hold, and Milan know that they cannot go into the new season so short of strikers.

As a result, La Republicca claims that the Rossoneri could be set to reignite their interest in bringing Andriy Shevchenko back to the club.

The Ukrainian, who had seven brilliant seasons with Milan from 1999 to 2006, scoring 127 goals in just 208 games, moved to Chelsea in 2006 for a whopping €45m. However, he has had two dreadful years in the English capital, and is well known to be desperate to move back to Italy.

Milan have never hidden their desire of bringing Sheva back to San Siro, but until now have only been interested in acquiring him on loan.

Roberto Rossi

Ambrosini Ponders Milan Retirement

Milan midfielder, Massimo Ambrosini, has revealed that he would like to end his career with the club as he prepares to begin his 15th season with the Rossoneri.
The vice-captain has been at the club since 1995 when Fabio Capello signed him from Cesena. Ambrosini has been influential as well as a loyal servant to the Rossoneri over the years. He is now looking forward to staying on at the club until he decides to hang up his boots.

“I believe it’s right that at this stage in my career to have a chat with the club over such possibility,” Ambrosini told Italia 1.

The Italian international also had a few words on Ronaldinho and he is hoping the Brazilian brings his magic to San siro.

“He (Ronaldinho)has brought a lot of enthusiasm and he has showed his intentions to do well. We always knew the club was working hard to get him,” concluded the midfielder.

Ambrosini has made over 220 appearances for his club and he will be remembered for firing Milan to the 2005 Champions League final when his strike against PSV in the semi-final ensured the Rossoneri went through on away goals.

Salvatore Landolina

Ancelotti: Paloschi Stays, Kaka Returns

The 18-year-old Paloschi, who is regarded as one of Italy’s best young strikers, was reportedly set to join Torino on a season-long loan deal.

However, Milan currently have something of a forward crisis after Marco Borriello picked up a serious knee injury in training at the weekend. With Pippo Inzaghi also sidelined, and Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato at the Olympics, it is common sense that Paloschi will now stay at the club, even if Ancelotti denies that Borriello’s injury has anything to do with this decision.

“Paloschi will stay with us, we never thought about selling him,” Carletto said at today’s press conference.

“Until it will be necessary, he will stay with us. He could even remain with us until the end of the year. His stay is not related to Borriello´s injury though.”

Ancelotti also spoke about tomorrow night’s Trofeo Tim competition, which will also feature rivals Inter and Juventus, and he revealed that Kaka will return to the fray after recovering from his knee operation.

“Tomorrow´s games are just friendlies, but when you face teams like Juve and Inter they are never really as such,” he stated. "They are important and motivating games.

"Nesta is not training right now, but he is recovering. The others are quite fine.

“Kaka is fit and will be ready to play, possibly both games. For the attack I will have Paloschi, Seedorf and Ricky available. Nesta, Maldini, Inzaghi and Borriello will stay at home.”

The Trofeo Tim at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin features three, 45 minute games between Milan, Inter and Juventus. The Rossoneri kick off the action against Juve.

Roberto Rossi

Ronaldinho: I'm reborn with AC Milan

Ronaldinho is fired up for the Olympics with new teammate Alexandre Pato and assures “I am reborn with Milan.”

The former Barcelona star has been out of action for several months with injury and let his weight go during the protracted transfer saga of the summer.

“I am becoming reborn with Milan,” he grinned in the Gazzetta dello Sport from Brazil’s Olympic training camp in Singapore.

“I am improving day by day. I thank Carlo Ancelotti and the club for having authorised me to come to the Olympics, as it will be an excellent way of preparing for the Italian season.”

Dinho had been denied the right to participate in the Games by Barca, but the Rossoneri agreed to release him when he completed the £18m move.

It will be an opportunity to regain fitness levels and get to know new club teammate Pato.

“I am working hard, following a personal fitness programme with a specific diet and I think I’m close to 100 per cent now,” continued the 28-year-old.

“On August 7, when we make our Olympic debut, I will be in ideal shape.

“Brazil might want me to play as a striker next to Pato, which is absolutely no problem for me, as I have already played in that role.

“If Ancelotti asks me to play there too, I am ready. Whether it is midfield or attack, I will give my all.”