Aquilani isn't joining Milan, bet that

[Judge Jules]

Aquilani's performances don't suggest that. Since going home to Italy he's done well both at Juve and at Milan, and I'm reliably advised that many Juve fans wanted them to stump up the (much reduced) fee for him. I think what we're seeing is total, cold-eyed pragmatism on the part of the clubs concerned - they know that Aquilani is desperate not to come back, hence also that there's no way we'd get any lasting value out of him on the pitch, in those circs.they're trying to stiff us for every last penny on the fee AND ultimately they can look elsewhere if we don't play nice.

 

[Squiggles]

I'd be pleased to have him back.

Decent player.

 

[King Binny]

After opting not to trigger the agreed €6m fee, Sky Italia say Milan have asked Liverpool to simply release Alberto Aquilani.

 

[Ryan]

Baaahahahaha, good on them.

'Look we're not paying 6M for him so why don't you just give him to us instead'.

 

[ILD]

Hahahaha. Some operators.

 

[peterhague]

Aquilani's performances don't suggest that. Since going home to Italy he's done well both at Juve and at Milan, and I'm reliably advised that many Juve fans wanted them to stump up the (much reduced) fee for him. I think what we're seeing is total, cold-eyed pragmatism on the part of the clubs concerned - they know that Aquilani is desperate not to come back, hence also that there's no way we'd get any lasting value out of him on the pitch, in those circs.they're trying to stiff us for every last penny on the fee AND ultimately they can look elsewhere if we don't play nice.

I don't think that stacks up as an explanation tbh. That could only be the case if Milan was the only realistic buyer and therefore had all the leverage, but that's clearly not the case. Ultimately they just don't think he's worth the £5m. I can't help but think the major problem is his professionalism, because plenty of clubs (us included) have seen enough talent to take him on but haven't much liked what they've seen after employing him for a few months.

 

[Rosco]

It's quite clearly a triumph for Rafa's unique ability to spot things in players that nobody else sees.

 

[Sunny]

I'd let him rot in the reserves rather than release him.

 

[mark1975]

It's quite clearly a triumph for Rafa's unique ability to spot things in players that nobody else sees.

......and you forgot to mention that we always get our money back on his fuck ups aswell. You can't dismiss the importance of that.

 

[keniget]

I think the problem more than likely is his wages. We gave him a massive increase and other clubs are unwilling to keep him at the same level (which he doesn't deserve).

If he was on 50k a week I think we'd have buyers at 8M euros.

 

[Rosco]

Definitely, to get rid we'll probably have to subsidise his wages. If nobody is willing to pay a fee we might as well bring him back and use him as a sub who can possibly change games.

 

[mark1975]

That's assuming he feels like playing, Ross, and he doesn't have belly ache, or he hasn't forgotten his mittens, etc.

 

[Judge Jules]

Didn't he halve his wage demands in an attempt to push a deal through with Milan?

 

[RolandG]

Keep Albert or let him buy out his contract if he is that desperate to leave. He can stiff Milan with a signing on fee.

 

[King Binny]

Alberto Aquilani could still seal a permanent move to Milan this summer, the Liverpool player’s agent has declared.

The midfielder joined the Diavolo on loan just under a year ago in a deal that would see the club forced to buy him if he made 25 League appearances.

That didn’t happen and Milan stated this week that, for the time being, they did not intend to take up their option to sign him.

“Nothing is certain at the moment,” Franco Zavaglia told ItaSportPress. “It is by no means certain that Milan will not decide to keep him…”

It’s understood that Rossoneri Vice-President Adriano Galliani is waiting to see whether Clarence Seedorf and Mathieu Flamini leave, before asking Liverpool for a discount on the Italian.

 

[themn]

*eats own head*

 

[Ossi]

It's Milan...they have been very clever the last couple of seasons with their signings/strategy. They'll sign him and they'll sign him cheap.

 

[Hansern]

Aquilanis agent must be one of the worst ever.

 

[Bradley]

Can't we swap him for some 17 year old Milan wonder kid?

That's what I would do anyway.

 

[dmishra]

Good idea. Swap him for El Shaarawy. I'd be very pleased with that.

 

[Gary25]

Unbelievably boring this.

 

[Modo]

I knew that this was gonna happen.

 

[Ryan]

Good for you Nostradamus.

 

[Modo]

Good for you Nostradamus.

Come on now, play 25 games and pay a fixed fee.
Milan would be stupid to that. Whoever brokered that deal should be sacked.
Oh, I guess he was.

 

[King Binny]

Alberto Aquilani is not wanted by Milan, but is open to a Fiorentina move, says the Liverpool midfielder’s agent.

He spent this season on loan at San Siro and the Rossoneri suggested they are not prepared to take up their option on the player.

The Italian international hopes to stay in Serie A anyway with Fiorentina, who today presented new director of sport Daniele Pradè to the media.

“The new directors Eduardo Macia and Pradè respect him a great deal and we’re waiting to talk to Liverpool,” agent Franco Zavaglia told Radio Blu.

“We’ll see what happens. He said no to Fiorentina last year because of Pantaleo Corvino, but with Pradè it would be another matter.”

Former Viola director of sport Corvino was let go this summer after five years in Florence.

Didn't realised Eduardo Macia joined Fiorentina

 

[Hansern]

Macia is shite

 

[Molbystwin]

Whenever I read Fiorentina i think of Batistuta.... what a fucking player he was... awesome.

 

[Judge Jules]

Macia is shite

Indeed, but maybe it was he who set up Aquilani's move to LFC, in which case he might be interested enough to take the bugger off our hands.

 

[Roopy]

He was a definite signing for Milan until Berlusconi got into the shit last year.

And to add, the Italian economy (like most of Europe) is now going down the toilet. Berlusconi's company, Fininvest, have also been hit hard by the downturn in the economy. Fininvest also owe €560 million in fines when the company was found guilty in bribing a judge during a takeover.

Milan have recorded a loss of €67.3 million ... a slight (€2.4 million) improvement on the previous year’s loss of €69.8 million. The losses in both years would have surpassed €80 million without the benefit of tax credits, €30million over the last 2 years ... exclude tax movements and profit from player sales, then the adjusted loss for Milan over the last four years would add up to over €380 million.

Milan's current wage bill is a whopping €206 million (a 50% increase since 2006) - the 2nd highest in the history of Serie A.

For them, the priority is to reduce this enormous wage bill. The departure of stars like Gattuso, Van Bommel, Inzaghi, & Nesta certainly helps - Gattuso & Van Bommel were on 7M per season.

Keep in mind that they still owe €16 million to Barcelona for Ibrahimovic and €10 million to Manchester City for Robinho.

 

[IGotALuvlyBunchOfCoconuts]

Whenever I read Fiorentina i think of Batistuta.... what a fucking player he was... awesome.

Batigoal!/Batigol!