Milan Derby Over Brazilian

Milan and Inter seem to be fighting over the signature of Brazilian defender Thiago Silva from Fluminense
The 23 year old Brazilian has garnered the attention of a host of European clubs, but the two Milan giants have shown the most interest in the player.

Both the Rossoneri and the Nerazzurri have suffered injury set-backs during the pre-season period, and both are set to decide whether to dip into the market to cover for the absences of crucial players, or wait until the January transfer window.

Nesta for Milan and Materazzi for Inter, have both recently picked up injuries.

With the Serie A season less then a month away, the Milanese teams are seriously considering a move for Thiago Silva to fill the gaps in defence.

Reports in Italy state that Inter's original plan was to go for the stopper during the January transfer window, but with the injuries affecting the team these plans may have changed.

Further reports are now linking Milan with Silva, potentially hijacking the deal from their bitter rival cousins. An aging Milan defence would benefit from an injection of youth into the back line, but Inter would be losing a solution to their defensive woes.

After seeming like a done deal, the Nerazzurri may end up watching this transfer slip through their fingers into their backyard.

Massimo Moratti and Adriano Galliani will certainly be keeping tabs on the needs and wants of this popular Brazilian defender in the days to come, hoping to snap him up as quickly as possible.

Peter Pedroncelli

Stendardo in AC Milan link

The agent of Lazio defender Guglielmo Stendardo has claimed that Milan have asked after his client.

The Rossoneri are keen to swell their defensive ranks before the end of the month when the transfer window closes.

After the injury to Alessandro Nesta, Carlo Ancelotti is short of numbers at the back and Stendardo, who spent half of last term on loan to Juventus, could be the answer.

“There has been nothing concrete yet, but I have been told that there has been contact between the clubs,” representative Gateano Fedele told Tuttomercatoweb.

“Lazio President Claudio Lotito is in charge of the situation but we have given our go-ahead for the transfer because they are a great club.”

Stendardo joined Lazio in 2005 but has played just 39 games for the Aquile and fell out of favour after a series of rows with Coach Delio Rossi last term.

Kaka: 'I'm in bad shape'

Milan’s woes increase as Kaka admits his knee problem is so bad he isn’t sure when he’ll be able to play again.

“I am in bad shape. I don’t know when I’ll be back,” he told journalists this evening.

The Brazilian limped off during this week’s 1-0 defeat to Sevilla in Moscow and was ruled out of today’s 5-0 thrashing by Chelsea.

Officially the club website would only confirm it was “an inflammation of the knee,” but reports from Brazil paint a far darker picture.

They suggest it is a case of tendonitis in the same knee that underwent surgery in May and will keep him on the sidelines for at least two weeks.

With Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato at the Olympics, Marco Borriello out for two months following meniscus ligament surgery on his knee and Pippo Inzaghi dealing with recurring muscular problems, this leaves Milan with no strikers.

Only 18-year-old Alberto Paloschi is available and he cannot play two games on the trot. Paloschi was left on the bench for today’s 5-0 defeat to Chelsea in a line-up so reshuffled that Massimo Ambrosini and Andrea Pirlo had to play upfront.

With this situation deteriorating and Robinho’s admission he wants to join Chelsea, it is increasingly likely that the Rossoneri will make a bid to bring Andriy Shevchenko back to San Siro.

Sheva faced his former club for the first time since making that £30m move in Moscow and it provides the two sides with the perfect opportunity to discuss his future.

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.”