El Shaarawy's Significance--A Fan's Perspective

Must stay: Stephan El Shaarawy

If for nothing else, then for interest of self-preservation, I have to take the recent rumour that Manchester
City have bid 40 million euros for Milan's Stephan El Shaarawy positively.  Not for any pecuniary reasons, of course.  I  don't hold out hope that if Milan were to accept the bid they would invest it in the market, and I certainly do not obsess over balanced books.

Rather, it will give Milan fans an opportunity to see how genuine our management's talk of a youth revolution is.  At 20, El Shaarawy is emblematic of Milan's youth policy, representing not only a critical part of the team, but also the Milan image that Silvio Berlusconi values so much: disciplined, good-looking, and in love with Milan.  Kaka had it before he faded into Madridian obscurity.  El Shaarawy has it now.

Before Mario Balotelli's arrival in January, El Shaarawy was prodigious.  Yes, he has been diffident since, but Milan are precisely in the business of nurturing players now--or so they say.

If Milan sell El Shaarawy, then, not for the first time, the management publicized lies, telling us that Milan was now done selling big players for money.  The books, as Milan CEO Adriano Galliani is so fond of telling us, are balanced.  The team needs some key reinforcements to be formidable.   El Shaarawy's sale would represent a total capitulation, not only to the rich of the football world, but to the club itself and what it purports to stand for.  And if Milan don't invest the money significantly, then we have to question how much of ourselves we should invest in this club.

If Milan are grooming players to sell them for high profits, then we are no different than Ajax, Porto, and Udinese.  Ever since the summer of 2006, in the wake of calciopoli, clubs have sensed that with the right price they can buy Milan's best players.  It seems the Milan management is  faced with torrid tentazione (temptation) in the summers, and Milan fans have to suffer the speculation and hang on every word Galliani says.   Andriy Shevchenko was sold because he wanted to leave--fair enough.  Kaka, Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were sold to settle debts--also fair enough (just about).

Now, Milan have no debt--except to us as fans, who have had to endure a massive upheaval at the club to finally see a coherent team rise to the top, one built on fiscal sanity.  There would simply be no excuse to sell El Shaarawy.

The good thing is the test for our management has come early.  We will not have to wait long to see if they mean what they say.

Despite Huge Relief, Questions Persist for Milan and Allegri

Win...Montolivo embraces Mexes as Zapata looks on exultingly

Controversy, recriminations, and managerial departures--the Serie A season ended in typical fashion in Italy.

Except, maybe, for Milan, who found themselves in an unusual place of having to fight for a Champions League spot.

As the minutes wound down in the Stadio Franchi carapace--more hollow than usual because of the almost completely empty seats--Milan looked set for a dispiriting defeat to a Siena team that was already relegated.  The last Champions Leage spot was increasingly looking purple, as Fiorentina were busy carving up  Pescara.  They were cruising at 5-1; Milan sinking under the weight of one solitary strike delivered by Claudio Terzi in the first half, when the Milan defence froze to allow him to glide in and score a simple header.

Eighty-four minutes had gone, and Adriano Galliani's jowls hadn't even twitched once in the stands.  He sat there more lugubrious than Vicente Del Bosque, flanked by the ubiquitous pair of Ariedo Braida and his son.

To put it mildly, it didn't look good. CaptainMassimo Ambrosini had been sent off, Milan had come close thrice--once with Mario Balotelli crashing a header off the crossbar--but hadn't scored, and the midfield looked like they were allergic to passing.

Then, the intervention in the 83rd minute. For the rest of the Serie A, especially Fiorentina, there was nothing divine about it--it was a secular intervention of wickedness.  Referee Mauro Bergonzi saw a forceful enough tug on Balotelli and awarded a penalty. With Balotelli, penalties are a foregone conclusion (he hasn't missed one for Milan or in his career), and it was 1-1 with about ten minutes left (with injury time).  Three minutes later, Milan floated in a free-kick, and Philippe Mexes prodded it against the goalkeeper, and prodded again past him.  It was 2-1.  There was delirium in the Milan camp, as Galliani finally celebrated with the usual abandon.

The penalty, of course, was velvet-soft.  As the thin crowd chanted "ladri, ladri" ("thieves, thieves") in the stadium, you could sense what was to come.  Fiorentina defender Manuel Pasqual frankly said that Milan were "gifted" the penalty, while Gonzalo Rodriguez affirmed his simmering outrage by not affirming it: "if I say what I am thinking, I will not play in Italy again."

Milan were more than fortunate to scrape through, and Fiorentina have every right to feel aggrieved about yesterday.  But taken in the context of the season, Milan just did about enough to qualify for the Champions League, even if they made it as nerve-shredding as possible.

The credit and some of the discredit for that goes to coach Massimiliano Allegri.  Those who clamour for his dismissal--including the less-than-cerebral owner Silvio Berlusconi--would be advised to think how far he has brought a team that saw the departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva amongst a host of other players who either retired or left Milan after several years.

I think Allegri should stay, but he has to improve the team in one chief area: how they approach crunch games.

Even in Allegri's championship-winning season of 2010-11, Milan pandered to the neutral's taste for drama far more than they needed to.  They let Inter get perilously close to them, before winning in a direct encounter, a game that saw them surge four points ahead at a decisive stage of the season.

Last season, Milan let Juventus surpass them right near the end, capitulating to a 1-1 draw to Fiorentina when a win was their only option.  And, of course, this season, let's not forget Milan redeemed themselves after an understandably tumultuous start, and they were, at one point, a mere point away from Napoli in second, and quite comfortable in front of Fiorentina.  That they needed a dubious penalty, and Mexes's toe-poke to get to the preliminaries of the Champions League hints at a lack of mettle when it was required most.

Notwithstanding all of that, Allegri still remains the right man for the job, even if he needs to fine-tune his approach.  The fans and players are all behind him, as was in ample evidence in their public show of support in recent weeks.  Berlusconi is capricious and self-obsessed, but even he should be dissuaded from the madness of appointing someone like Clarence Seedorf (as is being reported), who has no coaching experience and who spent not an insignificant amount of his latter matches at Milan peevishly sleep-walking in midfield, as coach!

But at the time of writing, it is still not clear where Allegri will be next season, with a meeting on Wednesday to decide his fate.  As I have said, I want him to, and I believe he will, stay, but he will also want some guarantees in terms of the transfer market.

Milan desperately need one who is able to deputize for, or even play with, Riccardo Montolivo, one current Rossonero who can actually distribute in midfield.  And in defence, though Ignazio Abate has been enterprising as ever on the right flank, Milan need someone who can actually cross.  Further, as Galliani has indicated, Milan's need for a central defender is also urgent, someone who can add to the fairly impregnable duo of Mexes and Cristian Zapata.

Lots of questions ahead during the summer, and it will be intriguing to see how, or if, Milan honour their commitment to bring in youth and important players for Milan.  There has been lots of talk of a fiscal revolution that allows for purchases, and no more painful sacrifices of players being sold--let's see how genuine it is.

Galliani and Cristante on La Domenica Sportiva

Bryan Cristante of Milan

The upsurge in Milan's recent fortunes and form has seen commentators gushing over its players, and even over Milan CEO Adriano Galliani.  Galliani suffers an exorbitant amount of abuse when the club missteps--and it has been lurching recently, with the sales of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva this past summer--but he profoundly cares about Milan.

It is dispiriting to think that he has to tolerate censure even for decisions taken by club owner Silvio Berlusconi, decisions that have made him appear at times callous.  However, take a look at Galliani's unadulterated joy when Milan score to understand that he refuses to watch games with a dispassionate, admnisterial eye, and how much he is invested in the club.

So, he deserves credit now as well.  On Sunday, Galliani made an appearance on the sports talkshow La Domenica Sportiva, alongside Milan's newest addition to the senior squad, Bryan Cristante. 

As Galliani fielded questions that covered a whole range of topics to do with Italian football, one got the feeling that here was a man, finally, able to beam about Milan's 'project,' which has been, in its incipience, acutely painful for Milan fans at times.  Admittedly, it is not a simple task to tell fans of a club used to buying the best players that they will now create and nurture them. 

Further, even the most sanguine Milan fan could not have imagined Stephan El Sharaawy and Mattia De Sciglio would make such an emphatic statement this season.  And now Galliani ardently hopes that Cristante can be the latest revelation.

Cristante, who turned eighteen on Sunday, signed a five-year contract with Milan on Monday.  The six-foot-one midfielder won the 2013 "Golden Boy" award, which is awarded by journalists to the outstanding player of the Torneo di Viareggio (the youth tournament played annually in Tuscany).  Galliani reminded the studio that Gianni Rivera also won the award for Milan.

When the panel started comparing Cristante to Fernando Redondo, the Argentine who had a flourishing career at Real Madrid, but who suffered for four years at Milan with injury, Galliani quickly added that Cristante "has more speed than Redondo."

When asked who his favourite players were, Cristante said he liked Riccardo Montolivo, whom Galliani praised on the same show as having a tachometer on his feet, and Marco Verratti.

Cristante promises a lot.  He is an imposing midfielder with notable speed.  He made his debut for Milan on December 6, 2011 against Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League, and owes his remarkable ascent into the first team to Milan's new youth policy. 

"It is very fortunate for us youngsters [that things have changed in Italian football this year]," said Cristante.  "I want to thank Mr. Galliani for having trust in me."

And so do all Milan fans.

Other points that Galliani made

- We had been following Mario Balotelli for two years, and once we sold Pato his signing became a real possibility

- Our scouts are working hard and all over--we have already picked our signings for next year

- Andrea Rizzoli [the referee for Milan vs Lazio] did well not to award the penalty when Candreva fouled El Sharaawy, but he should have given it when Marchetti fouled him

Milan's and Ibra's Timely Triumph

Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimović roars at and through the competition

Palermo 0-4 Milan.  It was the kind of game that you wouldn't really expect after a week of acrimony and apologies that reminded us how fragile the diplomatic equilibrium is in Serie A between Italy's two biggest clubs, Juventus and Milan.

Sulley Ali Muntari's goal that was not given--sorry, that was taken away after being given--last weekend against Juventus urged Milan's no. 2 Adriano Galliani to leave the San Siro because of high blood pressure.  Not before, however, him making sure that his precarious systolic and diastolic balance was upset completely.

"Look what happens when you cry," he is reported to have said to Juventus coach Antonio Conte in the tunnel. "It clearly works."

"What a pulpit--you people are the mafia of football," was Conte's response.

Galliani was referring to Juventus's sustained self-victimization before the game last weekend, which everyone is guilty of is in Serie A at one point or the other. Conte was referring to the perceived influence Milan have had in Italian football, the kind of influence that Juventus have also had, and the kind that Juventus have exerted shamefully in the past (Calciopoli and all that).  The notorious, erstwhile duopoly of Italian football arguing over injustices is not a very edifying moment, and not a moment that the Catanias and the Chievos should have any time for.

Comically, the 1-1 draw last weekend, during which Milan outplayed Juventus for most of the time, sobered Conte.  After realizing how undeserved the draw was (even considering Alessandro Matri's goal that was perhaps disallowed correctly), the Juventus coach spoke of a need for sensibility all around when talking about officiating.  It was a bit like being lectured on safe environmental practices by a suit at British Petroleum.

However, mainly for the better of public appearances, Galliani and Juventus president Andrea Agnelli made up over the phone.

Against such a backdrop, Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri deemed the trip to Palermo yesterday as being critical to the season.  It was a game that would show what Milan are made of.  The sense of injustice in the Milan camp was feverish--and poor Palermo were incinerated.

I haven't seen Milan play that kind of football since 2005.  Palermo were marginalized to the point of being spectators.  The Milan defence and midfield got to every ball first, and Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimović did the rest.  Ibra's hat-trick in the space of fourteen devastating minutes underlined Milan's rage and the Swede's centrality to this Rossoneri side.  Really, it seems pathological to deny how vital Ibra is to this team, and there are many out there who think he is a liability due to his disciplinary problems.  But surely he more than makes up for it, and perhaps we can see the time he spends suspended as well-deserved rest.

Returning after serving a harsh three-match ban, Ibrahimović  went to work, dismantling Palermo.  The hat-trick came from both feet, and was a display of precision and understated power.  He was unplayable, unstoppable, and unforgiving.

"I still think about that Juventus game," he said after the match.  Clearly.  Like a Bollywood hero driven by revenge and a soundtrack, Ibra smashed his way through Palermo, flaying pink flamingos at the Renzo Barbera, which is not the happiest hunting ground for Milan.

Chievo celebrate as Juventus deflate

Robinho was exquisite too, providing assists to Ibra, but it was the giant's night.  He is now tied with Antonio Di Natale at the top of the scoring table on 18 goals.  And he shows no signs of stopping.

Of course, sometimes perceived injustice can be the best spur.  There is no conspiracy against anyone, and I say that even after the lurid scandal of 2006.  However, what Conte has lost in the last week is his ability to moralize, and his team have lost the ability to win.

 Almost three hours after Milan's proclamations of power, Juventus dropped two valuable points against Chievo in a 1-1 draw. At home.  They have picked up just seven points out of the last fifteen on offer.  And they have all sorts of tough games ahead, while Milan have a much easier schedule.  The Bianconeri are undefeated this season, but they have drawn 12 games, one less than the amount they have won.

"People forget where we came from," said Conte after the draw yesterday.  "Last summer there was talk of us ending up sixth, and now look where we are."

That won't cut it with the jeering Juventus fans, who whistled the team after the game yesterday.  As for  Milan fans, they can thank Boukary Dramè for the late drama yesterday.  At 1-0 Juventus looked like they would see a win through to the end, but then Dramè shot past Gianluigi Buffon, and Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci did the rest by deflecting the ball in the goal.

Milan are now three points ahead of Juventus, who have a game in hand against Bologna.  After a week of talking about officials and phantom goals, it was heartening to be reminded that the players can still boss this Scudetto showdown.  And there is no bigger boss than Ibra.

The Criminal Dithering Over Legge Crimi

Rocco Crimi

Imagine that Italian football clubs are suddenly allowed to build privately owned, modern stadia, so that they can capitalize on match-day revenue by not having to pay city councils for rent.  Imagine also that by doing so, clubs expand their revenue sources and effectively compete with the other clubs in Europe, which have long enjoyed privately owned stadia.

Private ownership of stadia seems eminently pragmatic, does it not? Even in the chaotic world of Italian football and politics, where equanimity may not always prevail, many have at least come to recognize that it does. The Secretary of Sport, Rocco Crimi, proposed a law known as Legge Crimi, which aims to allow clubs to take exclusive ownership of stadia, which in turn would mean they could build new venues or improve the current ones.  Further, the gate receipts from matches would go entirely  to the clubs, and not towards the cost of renting stadia from city councils.  The Italian Senate approved the law in late 2009, but it is still awaiting approval from Parliament.

In March 2010, Crimi lamented the chronically neglected state of stadia in Italy, and emphasized the importance for clubs to diversify their financial portfolio:

"With their resources club presidents will be able to build better stadia than our current ones.  This way we would avoid the situation in which the State pours money into stadium infrastructure, like they did for the World Cup in 1990, and then not continue to invest. [. . .] Italian clubs currently earn 65% of their revenues from TV rights.  They should have more sources of revenue."

It is now August 2011, and the law is still yet to be passed.  On July 7, 2011, Crimi said that work is being done to bring the law to fruition.  The excessive deliberation over a law that seems absolutely essential for Italian football highlights the political listlessness of the country.  The delay also lends credence to Adriano Galliani's perennial cries of the decline of Italian football.  Just yesterday, the Milan vice-president likened Italian football to a "pizzeria" when compared to the more opulent "restaurants" of other footballing countries in Europe, like Spain, England, and Germany. One of the major causes of this disparity, Galliani claims, is the stadia issue.  Many rebuke him for his seemingly pathological pessimism, but Galliani is just delivering the bitter truth of Italian football.  It does, after all, seem reasonable to listen to a man who has been a part of Milan's success for twenty-five years.

Without the new law, clubs have to try and negotiate the ownership of stadia with city councils eager to maintain the status quo for financial gain.  The councils do little to modernize the stadia, but still demand exorbitant fees from clubs to rent them.  As I recently wrote, Juventus have taken the right steps and invested in a new stadium by demolishing the old Stadio delle Alpi.  Palermo are now also building their own stadium, the construction of which will start in 2012.  However, these clubs have been fortunate in that they have found their city councils to be less obstinate than others.

The Legge Crimi needs to come into effect as quickly as possible so that all Italian clubs can have the opportunity to maximize revenue from their stadia.  Without the law, Italian football does not stand a chance.