Milan chief Adriano Galliani is stunned to be facing Barcelona again, while confirming they “haven’t decided yet” on Robinho and Alexandre Pato.
Milan chief Adriano Galliani is stunned to be facing Barcelona again, while confirming they “haven’t decided yet” on Robinho and Alexandre Pato.
The Rossoneri faced Barça in both the group stage and the Quarter-Finals of last season’s Champions League, but have drawn them again in the Second Round to be played in February.
“It’s incredible, we’ll be playing them six times in just over a year,” said Vice-President Galliani.
“Barcelona were assigned to us because the other teams could not face each other, so we were the default option. Barcelona play the best football in the world with the best players in the world. We’ll try and last season we made a good impression.”
Galliani is expected to fly out to Brazil this weekend for negotiations with Santos for Robinho and Corinthians for Pato.
“We won’t sign any more strikers, even if one of the current roster leaves. If both of them go, then we’ll see what we will do.
“We haven’t decided yet on Robinho and Pato, as it’s still only December. The Brazilian transfer session ends on April 15.
“Was the offer for Pato satisfying? We’ll see. Robinho wants to go back to Brazil because his family is there and it’s a personal choice. We received an offer from Santos which we rejected, but there has not been a second proposal yet.
“Brazilian football has grown on an economic level, as with sponsorship deals and pay-per-view television the clubs can afford more than they could in the past. We will speak with Pato and Robinho to decide what to do.
“For now Pato and Robinho are Milan players. Our books are balanced and we are even set to make a profit. Any potential Pato and Binho sales would go into the 2013 budget.”
The Vice-President also commented on rumours regarding Didier Drogba, Udinese’s Pablo Armero and a potential return from Botafogo for Clarence Seedorf.
“I won’t comment on the Drogba rumours. We have never considered Armero. Seedorf will continue playing in Brazil.”