..::Football II::..

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Scholes snubs Manchester United coaching role

Despite the appointment of Ryan Giggs and Phil Neville to David Moyes' backroom staff, the recently retired midfielder has opted to spend more time with his family Paul Scholes has rejected the chance to form part of Manchester United’s new-look coaching team due to family reasons.


New manager David Moyes revealed that he asked the 38-year-old to follow in the footsteps of Ryan Giggs and former team-mate Phil Neville by becoming a coach following his decision to retire from playing for a second time in May.
Scholes is keen to spend more time with his family after discussing a potential coaching role with Moyes, though the Scot hinting that the former England international still forms part of his long-term plans behind the scenes at Old Trafford.

Moyes told the club’s official website: "I wanted to make sure I had connections to what happened here.

"I spoke to Paul Scholes as well. He wants to have some time off with his family.

"Paul was fantastic with me and wanted to help a lot. I probably spent an hour or two on the phone with him. He wants to spend time with his family at the moment.

"We'll bring him in when he's ready."On the decision to involve Giggs and Neville in his coaching set-up, Moyes added: "I wanted to make sure I had some young members of staff behind me as well."

Scholes spent his entire professional career at United, winning 11 Premier League titles and the Champions League twice.

 

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Chelsea loan Van Aanholt to Vitesse

The left-back, 22, made 39 appearances for the Arnhem-based outfit in all competitions last season and has returned to the Eredivisie side for a third time
Chelsea have loaned defender Patrick van Aanholt to Vitesse for the third consecutive season.

The 22-year-old made 31 Eredivisie appearances for the Dutch side last term as they finished fourth in the league, securing Europa League qualification in the process.

Van Aanholt has made just eight senior appearances for Chelsea since signing on junior terms from PSV in 2007 and also spent half of the 2011-12 season at the Gelredome.

A statement on Vitesse's official website read: "Patrick van Aanholt will play at Vitesse again next season."The 22-year-old defender has been loaned for a season from Chelsea. Van Aanholt begins his third season in Arnhem."

The move follows Chelsea's capture of Vitesse midfielder Marco van Ginkel, who signed a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge on Friday.

Van Aanholt was part of Netherlands' squad for the Under-21 European Championship in Israel and played in a 3-0 group stage loss against eventual winners Spain.

 

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Leonardo confirms PSG offer for Cavani

Les Parisiens' director of football reveals that the Ligue 1 champions have opened negotiations with Napoli over the transfer of the highly-rated Uruguayan forward Leonardo has revealed that Paris Saint-Germain have to bid for Napoli striker Edinson Cavani.


The 26-year-old ended last season as Serie A's top goalscorer with 29 goals across the campaign as the Azzurri finished in the runners-up spot, nine points behind champions Juventus.

Leonardo, 43, indicated that les Rouge-et-Bleu are keen to sign the Uruguay international and have entered into negotiations with the Italian outfit.

"We presented an offer to [Napoli president Aurelio] De Laurentiis that I consider to be very interesting," the Brazilian declared to Il Matino. "We are pursuing negotiations. We remain in contact and there could be new developments over the next days."

Cavani, whose deal at the San Paolo runs until 2017, has been attracting interest from the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea in recent weeks but a €63 million buy-out clause in his contract has made any potential move tricky.

However, reports have suggested that PSG are the first club to have offered at least the €63m that De Laurentiis is demanding.

 

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Alonso: Illarramendi would be a great signing

The 31-year-old midfielder believes the Real Sociedad star could become his long-term successor in the Spanish capital should a deal be completed this summer Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso believes that Asier Illarramendi would be a great signing for the club and could become his long-term successor at Santiago Bernabeu.


The 23-year-old Real Sociedad star has been heavily linked with a €30 million move to the Spanish capital, following his excellent displays for Spain Under-21s in the European Championship coming after a stand-out season in La Liga.“He’s a good player who would be an excellent addition at Real Madrid," Alonso is quoted as saying by AS. “But I prefer not to say anything more."


Alonso is currently in the process of recovery following his groin injury which kept him out of the Confederations Cup, and has been undergoing personal training sessions at Real Sociedad's facilities.The 31-year-old's own future remains the subject of speculation following the arrival of Isco from Malaga and the proposed deal for Illarramendi, with a move to Chelsea to link up with former boss Jose Mourinho a reported possibility.

 

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Van Ginkel targets starting spot at Chelsea

The Netherlands Under-21 midfielder, who officially made the switch from Vitesse to the Blues on Friday, is eager to play games ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil New Chelsea signing Marco van Ginkel has targeted a starting position under Jose Mourinho following his move to the Stamford Bridge outfit.


The 20-year-old, who was part of the Netherlands Under-21 side at the European Championship in Israel last month, signed a five-year deal with the Blues earlier this week and was officially unveiled at the club on Friday.

Van Ginkel has been earmarked as a star for the future, but the midfield starlet is determined to force his way into the starting XI and will not settle for a place on the bench.

"I want to play games and not only sit on the bench, that's what I hope for," Van Ginkel told the club's website.

"I want to play in games at these great stadiums and hopefully be important for the team, whether it is from the bench or from the start.

"I spoke with the manager and he had some good words for me.

"If a trainer like this says these things to you it makes you really proud and I am happy to work with him."

Van Ginkel is hoping the step up in quality of the Premier League can make him a better player and earn him a call-up to the Netherlands squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil."Everybody wants to go to Brazil," Van Ginkel said.

"You have to play, that's what (head coach) Louis van Gaal has said to players.

"I think I can play games and I think the Premier League is higher than the Dutch league, so you can learn more physically and technically, and develop. That's why I am here."

 

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Coentrao wants to leave Real Madrid, claims Carvalho

The Portuguese defender believes his compatriot is keen on departing Santiago Bernabeu this summer but insists Cristiano Ronaldo will sign a new deal
Former Real Madrid defender Ricardo Carvalho has claimed Fabio Coentrao is eager to quit the club this summer.

The 25-year-old full-back claimed earlier this year that he has never felt wanted in the Spanish capital, prompting rumours he could follow Jose Mourinho to Chelsea or return to his homeland with Benfica.

Carvalho, who recently signed for Monaco, believes his compatriot could well be set to move on from the Liga giants this summer - though he has urged him to stay at the club.

"I think that he wants to move on because he thinks that it would be the best thing for him to do career-wise," the 35-year-old told A Bola.

"Personally, I think he should continue because he meets Madrid’s requirements. He played well in practically every game last season.

"He’s a great left-back, to the point where he even made a few of his critics change their opinion about him. I do think that he has a place at Real Madrid."

Another Portugal star linked with a summer move away from Real Madrid is Cristiano Ronaldo, although Carvalho is confident his compatriot will sign a new deal at the club and placed him above Barcelona's Lionel Messi as the world's finest player."Every player who has quit Real Madrid will have regretted it later," Carvalho continued. "Cristiano will renew his contract.

"Cristiano is a winner, he always wants to play and win and that’s why I am in no doubt that he will continue with Madrid.

"Cristiano is a more complete player than Messi and I am not just saying that because I am Portuguese, looking at it objectively, it’s what I think."

 

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Podolski would welcome Higuain arrival at Arsenal

The 28-year-old German attacker does not feel under threat by the prospect of the Real Madrid striker joining the Gunners, and is happy to see the club sign top-class players Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski would welcome the arrival of Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain at the Emirates Stadium, should the Argentine swap the Spanish capital for north London.


The Gunners are in pole position to sign the striker after launching an improved €27 million bid on Thursday, although the offer is still short of Madrid's €30m asking price.

The arrival of the Blancos striker would appear to put Podolski's first-team place under threat, but the Germany international is not worried about being overshadowed by Higuain and is delighted to see the club sign quality players.

"It is always good when good players come in, I don't worry about a specific player and it is certainly not a problem," Podolski told The Sun.

"I am strong enough and I have qualities and when good players come in, I will play with good players."Every season players come in and players go but I think it is good news if top players come in.

"The hope is that this season Arsenal will be at the top of the league.

"English football, thankfully, is not like Spain where you only have two teams, Barcelona and Real Madrid, who fight at the top."In the Premier League you have five, six, even seven top, top teams."It is very difficult but I know that Arsenal are one of those top teams who will be involved.

"You don't know how the season will work out, a few of the other teams all have new managers so it is difficult to say but they will be strong and equally, Arsenal will be strong."

Higuain scored 16 goals in 28 La Liga games for Real Madrid last season, while Podolski netted 11 times in 33 Premier League appearances for Arsenal.

 

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Kompany hails Pellegrini after first day in Manchester City job

The Belgium and City captain reported back to training on Monday and was impressed with how the 59-year-old handled the first session ahead of his debut Premier League season Vincent Kompany has praised Manuel Pellegrini's early approach to his new job as Manchester City manager.

The former Malaga boss has taken over at the Etihad Stadium this summer, following the sacking of Roberto Mancini in May.

And Kompany feels that Pellegrini has approached his new position in the correct way, while also praising the squad’s fitness on the first day of pre-season training at Carrington.

"I think all of us have done some preparation work during the holidays because the guys look very sharp after a long break, so that's great," the 27-year-old told the club's official website.

"It was also nice to start work with the new manager and I think his approach with the team today was really good.

"It's important now to try to improve on the last campaign and make sure that whatever the new manager brings in, that we try to make it our own as quick as possible." His side will embark on pre-season trips to South Africa, Hong Kong, Germany and Finland before their opening Premier League fixture at home to Newcastle United on August 17.

City have already recruited Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho from Shakhtar Donetsk and Jesus Navas from Sevilla this summer.

 

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It will be tough to replace Schurrle, admits Leverkusen star Sam

The attacker and team-mate Philipp Wollscheid feel the club must strive to fill the void left by the new Chelsea signing in order to compete properly in the Champions League Sidney Sam and Philipp Wollscheid have stressed the importance for Bayer Leverkusen to replace star winger Andre Schurrle.

The 22-year-old joined Chelsea for an undisclosed fee last month after a stellar season for the Bundesliga side, and his former team-mates are under no illusions as to how tough it will be to fill the void following his departure.

“One thing is for sure, Andre was a great player," Sam told Goal. "The club will do everything possible to compensate for this departure and have already bought some players. Now we need to stand out to other players."

“He was one of our service providers but that is just the way it goes in football," Wollscheid added.

“With Heung-Min Son and Robbie Kruse we have signed two good guys and are very excited about it. But nonetheless, the club says, and as is read in the media, two, three or four new players will be bought. I feel this is necessary.

“The schedule [next season] is heavier and it will not be possible in the Champions League to use players who have not played so often, as we did last year in the Europa League. Therefore, we must strengthen the quality of our squad."

Leverkusen secured a return to Europe's premier competition after their third-placed finish last season, and Sam is hopeful the group-stage draw is kind to them.

“Of course we want easier opponents. While it’s nice to play against Real Madrid or any other club of this calibre, I would rather play the simpler opponents. That’s obvious," he said.

“We will see during the day of the draw, but they will definitely be exciting games and it is our job to fine-tune the team to win in order to deliver the best possible performances so we can move into the next round," added Wollscheid.

 

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'Manchester United fans will forgive Rooney'

Red Devils legend Bryan Robson believes the Old Trafford faithful will bear no long-term grudge towards the 27-year-old, despite a second transfer request in three years Manchester United legend Bryan Robson insists the club's fans will bear no grudge towards Wayne Rooney, after he handed in a transfer request.

Former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson revealed that Rooney was looking to leave the club at the end of last season, and he has since been linked with moves to Chelsea, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.New manager David Moyes insists the striker will not be allowed to depart Old Trafford in the off-season and Robson sees no reason why he should.

"He starts the season, he scores a few goals, enjoys his football then the fans will forgive him if there is anything to forgive him for," Robson told reporters."All you've got to is look at to Ronaldo with Wayne when they had the incident.

After two games Ronaldo was playing fantastic when he came back to Old Trafford and everybody forgot about it and everybody loves Ronaldo and I think that's the scenario for Wayne."Wayne's got everything he could possibly want at this football club so hopefully he can be happy and entertain us because as a football supporter and as a Manchester United supporter I want to see the best players playing at our club.

"Hopefully they do resolve any issues that there is but it's very obvious that all of the squad and the manager wants Wayne Rooney to be playing his football here next season."Former United striker Andy Cole, who won the treble with the club in 1999, also thinks Old Trafford is the best place for Rooney, but understands why clubs would have been alerted by his potential availability.

"Knowing Wayne and where he is, I think this [Manchester United] is a great football club and you never want to leave this football club," he added. "He's a top player, we all know that, and naturally all top players are going to be looked at by other football clubs. He's got a great platform here."

 

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Aston Villa striker Benteke hands in transfer request

The powerful striker helped Paul Lambert's struggling side avoid relegation to the Championship with 19 league goals last season, and he is now looking to move on
Aston Villa have confirmed that striker Christian Benteke has handed in a transfer request.

Goal reported earlier on Monday that Chelsea are lining up a move for the Belgium striker, who is keen to challenge for the Premier League title and play Champions League football.

Benteke has proven to be a favourite at Villa Park after scoring 19 league goals in his debut season to help stave off the threat of relegation, but he has now expressed his desire to leave Villa Park and will not partake in their pre-season preparations.

"In response to reports that Christian Benteke has not travelled to Germany with the club and has made a transfer request, we can confirm that both are accurate," a club statement read.

"For clarity's sake, however, he had already been given extra time off until July 18 and was reminded that there are three years remaining on his contract."We consider him to be a Villa player and expect that he will be with us for the 2013-14 season.

"Having received his transfer request, we have also informed him that should we receive an offer within an appropriate time-frame during pre-season which meets our valuation we would act upon it. But he will remain a Villa player should this not happen."Villa boss Paul Lambert added: "While we are hugely disappointed that Christian has put in a transfer request, it's important that people appreciate we are trying to build something strong and vibrant here at the club and we want Christian to be part of that."

 

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Manchester City close in on "new Vieira" Rodney Kongolo

The Premier League runners-up look set to continue their push to sign the finest young talent in Europe by raiding Feyenoord for the highly-rated central midfielder
Manchester City are poised to sign 15-year-old Feyenoord midfielder Rodney Kongolo - a youngster touted as the new Patrick Vieira.

Kongolo is expected to travel to Manchester later this week as City attempt to beat off major interest from Liverpool and Chelsea in their bid to sign the Netherlands youth starlet.

Top Premier League clubs have been attracted by the fact any fee could be as low as £500,000 in compensation.

But City hope the appointment of Vieira - Kongolo's idol - as the head of their Elite Development Squad will tip the balance in their favour.

The Premier League runners-up have already recruited "the new Zlatan Ibrahimovich", 15-year-old Swedish striker Zacharias Faour, this summer, while Manu Garcia of Sporting Gijon's youth ranks is also in their sights.

City continue to work on their £100 million Etihad Campus training complex, which is designed to attract and develop the best young talent on the planet and spans two postcodes.

 

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West Brom blast Chelsea over Isaiah Brown bid

The Baggies will let the highly-rated youngster leave if a suitable compensation package can be agreed with the Blues but described their latest offer as 'disappointing' West Brom have confirmed they have turned down a compensation offer from Chelsea for academy product Isaiah Brown.

The 16-year-old midfielder has been tracked by several Premier League clubs since making his first-team debut against Wigan last season, and is now on the verge of a move to Stamford Bridge.

The Baggies are due at least £209,000 compensation under Elite Player Performance Plan rules but the club’s sporting and technical director Richard Garlick insist they deserve more.

"We are disappointed by Chelsea’s offer," he told the club’s official website.

"We have invested a lot of time and money in Isaiah’s development as a player. As one of our most exciting academy products in recent years, we had hoped to bring him through into our first team.

"But Chelsea have forced our hands and we are more than prepared for the matter to be decided by a tribunal if needs be.

"More importantly, it makes you question why these young players are joining bigger clubs when they are likely to gain more first-team opportunities in the Barclays Premier League at clubs similar to us."

Brown has won three England Under-17s caps and two for the Under-16s, scoring his first goal in a 4-3 friendly defeat to Germany in February.

Two months later he became the second youngest-ever Premier League player when he came on as a late substitute against Wigan, aged 16 years and 117 days.

 

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Gomez thanks 'best club in the world' Bayern

The 27-year-old has thanked players and supporters alike as he prepares to leave the club to join Fiorentina Mario Gomez has issued a heartfelt thank you to former club Bayern Munich as he prepares for life with new club Fiorentina.

The Germany international inked a four-year-deal with the Serie A club just a month after completing a remarkable treble with the European champions, and he admitted he will leave the club with something of a heavy heart.

“Dear fans, it is time to announce that I'll be leaving the club with a weeping and a laughing eye,” he posted on his official Facebook page.

“I would like to thank you fans and of course my team-mates, the staff and all the people at Bayern for the sensational support you gave me.

“It was a great time at the best club in the world. I am very grateful for the great experience that I could made here in these four years.”

“Now begins a new chapter for me and I look forward to joining my new club Fiorentina, as well as the city, the country, the language and the culture... and of course the delicious food.

“I will be still very connected to Munich and this great club and wish the team all of the best and much success. I’m sure they will remain the best team in the world with this great coach next year.

“Once again many thanks, especially to fans. Your Mario.”

 

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Strootman open to PSV exit

The 23-year-old is contemplating a move away from the club with the hopes of being included in Netherlands' World Cup squad in 2014 Kevin Strootman is open to leaving PSV this summer as he looks to boost his chances of a place at next summer's World Cup.

The likes of Manchester United and Roma have long been linked with a move for the midfielder, although no concrete offers have yet been put forward to the Eredivisie runners-up.

Strootman has now revealed there is significant interest in his signature - although not from any of Europe's elite - and confirmed he would consider leaving his current club.

“There are several clubs interested, but only when they reach an agreement with PSV do I come into the picture,” he told Voetbal International.

“This is not to say that any are in the world's top six.

“There is also interest from Russia, but that is not an option for me. I do not make hasty decisions about my future.

“It was very unfortunate that so many players left PSV [this summer]. I did not expect Dries Mertens and Erik Pieters would leave the club.”

After captaining the Netherlands U-21 squad to the semi-finals in this year’s European Championship, Strootman has now set his sights on cementing himself in the plans of senior coach Louis van Gaal ahead of the World Cup next summer.

“The opinion of Louis van Gaal is also very important to me with the World Cup in Brazil next year," he continued.

Strootman, whose contract runs through the 2015-16 season, has spent two seasons with PSV since joining from Utrecht, starting 62 Eredivisie matches for the club.

 

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Strootman Patta!​

 

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Magdeburg 0-3 Borussia Dortmund: Jurgen Klopp's side secure routine friendly victory

A sublime free kick from Marco Reus and strikes apiece from Sven Bender and Erik Durm sealed an impressive pre-season win for the Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund continued their pre-season preparations with a 3-0 win over Regionalliga outfit Magdeburg on Monday.

Marco Reus, Sven Bender and Erik Durm got the goals at the MDCC-Arena for the Champions League finalists, who did not include recent acquisitions Sokratis Papastathopoulos or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in their side.The match got underway at a fairly sedate pace but Reus lit up the game just before half-time, curling a free kick over the wall and perfectly into the top corner.Another moment of individual class doubled the advantage as Bender ran on to a loose cut-back and thundered an effort in from 25 yards.

But it was a flowing team move that rounded things off five minutes from time as one-touch play from Jonas Hoffman and Kevin Grosskreutz got Durm into the area, with the 21-year-old coolly slotting home.Dortmund’s next warm-up match sees them take on Meppen on Thursday.

 

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Newcastle star Gutierrez wants to finish career in Argentina

The former Mallorca midfielder is happy to remain at St James' Park while he remains in top physical condition and is hoping skipper Fabricio Coloccini will stay for "many years" Newcastle United midfielder Jonas Gutierrez has revealed that, while he is happy with life at St James' Park, he plans to finish his playing career in Argentina.

The former Mallorca star joined the Magpies back in 2008 and has gone on to feature in almost 200 games as a first-team regular at the club.

Gutierrez started 34 Premier League games during the 2012-13 campaign as Newcastle ended a disappointing season in 16th place and although he is keen to remain in England's top flight, a return to his native country is part of his future plans.

"I want to return to Argentina," he told Goal. "I've loved being with this club for many years but I also know you have to be at one hundred per cent.

"And, today, the Premier League is very demanding, very physical. When I am 33 or 34, I'll see if I am physically fit to hold my own at that level.

"The Premier League is the best league in the world. I do not think back to what I accomplished in the past, I enjoy every day.

"I'm 30 years old and I begin to see the end because the guys who come in are younger and it makes everything more difficult. So I try to improve and I'll start my sixth season here and enjoy it."

Toon skipper Fabricio Coloccini was the subject of intense transfer speculation during the 2012-13 season having revealed his desire to return to Argentina, but Gutierrez is hoping his fellow countryman will remain at Newcastle.

"Colo is the captain and that's important. He is the voice of the locker room and everyone respects him a lot," he continued.

"He is a great player and a great person. He is essential for our defence, is our captain and the commanding voice. There are many things that he has won over so many years.

"Losing him could have been very difficult, but football changes a lot, you can not know what will happen. Today he is here in Newcastle and hopefully he will be for many years."

 

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Real Madrid want Higuain to stay, insists Perez

The Blancos president says the club still hope to keep the Argentina international at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer and insists Arsenal have made no approach
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has insisted that the Liga giants want Gonzalo Higuain to stay with the club.

The Argentina international has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal this summer, as Arsene Wenger looks to bolster his forward line ahead of the new season.

However, speaking to Univision, Perez was adamant the Liga runners-up still hoped to retain Higuain, and indicated the club are yet to receive an official bid from the Gunners.

"We don't want Higuain to leave," he said. "What's more no-one from Arsenal has come to us and made us any offers at all for him. "There are no offers on the table."Higuain was Madrid's second highest goalscorer in La Liga last season, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo, with 16 goals in 28 appearances for the club.

 

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Galliani: Milan targeting top-three finish

The Rossoneri's CEO has insisted the club are capable of challenging for the title and having an extended run in Europe AC Milan have enough about them to mount a serious title challenge, according to the club's vice-president Adriano Galliani.

Milan finished third in Serie A last season following a miraculous recovery in the second half of the campaign whilst they also reached the last 16 of the Champions League, eventually being defeated by Barcelona.

But Galliani says it is vitally important they finish in the top three again and is hoping for an extended run in the Champions League.

“The last season was a difficult one for us,” he told reporters. “We had a rough start but a beautiful final stretch.

“So we go into the new season without any psychological issues.

“Our goals are to get back into the Champions League, to try and go as far as possible in that competition and win the Coppa Italia.

“To finish first, second or third is crucial. Everyone knows that the economic advantages of the Champions League are huge.”

Galliaini also revealed they are still in talks with Santos over the transfer of Robinho. The Brazilian has been linked with a move back to his homeland but no deal has been finalised yet.

Milan are looking to acquire the services of Fiorentina's Adem Ljajic and CSKA's Keisuke Honda as replacements for the 29-year-old.

He added: “Negotiations are underway with Santos. The boy [Robinho] wants to go home.

“There are still some things to be sorted out though.

“Ljajic? There have been some rumours, and I will not deny it.

“Honda? We hope to get him to Milan in January.”