Milan slap 24million euro price on Gilardino
MILAN, June 5 (Reuters) - AC Milan are prepared to sell unsettled
striker Alberto Gilardino for 24million euros ($32million) if he
still wishes to move, club vice-president Adriano Galliani said on
Tuesday.
The Italy forward, who scored 12 goals in Serie A last season, had
said he does not feel fully appreciated at the San Siro.
'The team continues to believe and have faith in him,' Galliani was
quoted as saying on the club Web site (www.acmilan.com). 'However,
his comments in recent days are not particularly pleasing to us and
therefore if he continues to be unhappy and wishes to move, we will
let him go if a club bids 24 million euros.'
Filippo Inzaghi was preferred to the former Parma forward in
Milan's Champions League final win over Liverpool last month and
took full advantage by scoring twice.
Galliani added that only Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich,
Inter Milan and 'a couple of English clubs' could afford Gilardino,
who will miss Italy's Euro 2008 qualifier in Lithaunia on Wednesday
after deciding to have knee surgery.
Milan struggled for goals in the early part of the season after
selling Andriy Shevchenko to Chelsea. They brought in Ronaldo in
January but have since been linked with the return of Shevchenko or
a bid for Arsenal striker Thierry Henry.
However, Galliani said they had already tried and failed to capture
France's Henry.
'He is a player who we have always liked. After the transfer of
Sheva we were close to buying him but the great man wanted to stay
at the club that launched him and made him famous,' he
said.
