El Shaarawy staying
AC Milan hotshot Stephan El Shaarawy (despite his barnet…) was No.1 on Chelsea’s shopping list according to The Express on Tuesday. They rather lazily added that (deep breath) Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Manchester City and Monaco are also interested. How predictable.
It’s as if some journos sit in an office with a tombola full of random players and clubs before picking two out and challenging themselves to write a story on it…
Anyway, these strangely clandestine quotes from AC Milan’s official website poo poo any talk of a move – the boy is staying put in Italy.
“There has been a meeting between [Milan vice president] Adriano Galliani, Stephan El Shaarawy and the young star’s entourage.”
“Everything went well. Stephan has always been an AC Milan fan and has reiterated his determination to continue playing for the Rossoneri. ”
That pledge was reciprocated by Milan, with conviction. “Milan and El Shaarawy will move forward together, as they have since 2011. No more talk of the transfer market, no more rumours. AC Milan, the Rossoneri colours and the ‘Faraone’ will absolutely continue on together.”
The New Maradona to… South Wales?
And finally a fun little titbit to finish with from Thursday’s paper round – West Ham and Cardiff City are allegedly both lining up bids for the ‘new Maradona Mk 16.4’, Javier Saviola.
The 40-cap Argentinian dwarf, 31, has been released by Malaga and is looking for a new club. On the one hand he’s an old fashioned journeyman with seven teams in four different countries already on his CV and wouldn’t be bothered by uprooting sticks once again. Would he be tempted by a swansong in the Premier League though? It seems quite unlikely that one of the few men to have played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid might fancy a relegation scrap in the Prem? Stranger things have happened, however, and this is exactly the sort of coup that Sam Allardyce made his trademark at Bolton. I’ll remain sceptical until there are any quotes from Saviola’s camp, but it would be a real treat if it were to happen – the bloke averaged 20 goals a season during his 3 years at the Camp Nou once upon a time, don’t you know…
Pete Starr is the editor of MatchPint’s blogging venture, Mud Sweat and Beers. Enjoy that? Pay us a visit for more prime sports chat and the UK’s No.1 sports pub finder.
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