| |
|
| Wednesday 23 April, 2008 |
| Blog: Power Gen |
| Gennaro Gattuso is being linked with a summer move, but Antonio Labbate urges Milan to avoid making another transfer blunder |
 |
 |
|
Wasn’t Gennaro Gattuso supposed to be the next Milan captain once Paolo Maldini finally decided to hang up his boots? You’re right, he was. But today we find the Italian international in a position where there seems to be some doubt over whether he’ll even be wearing the Rossoneri colours next season, never mind the armband.
Real Madrid last week, Bayern Munich and Manchester United this. Gattuso, according to a variety of reports, certainly has some tempting admirers. That is some achievement for a player with such limited technical ability, but the fact that three of European football’s top clubs would consider his swoop speaks volumes about Gattuso’s capabilities on a football field.
Rino clearly hasn’t got the flair of Ronaldinho, the elegance of Sebastien Frey, nor the quality of Gianluca Zambrotta. Nevertheless, what he can do he does very well and while the Milan of 2008-09 may be able to flourish without the aforementioned trio, they surely cannot look to start a new era without a player who contributed so much to the previous winning one.
The mythical Rossoneri jersey is like a second skin to the former Rangers and Salernitana hopeful. He’s the heart and soul of the side, a champion, a symbol, a man who understands what it means to represent one of the world’s most decorated club sides. Few will be hurting more than him after such a rollercoaster campaign at the Meazza.
Yet despite the numerous difficulties, it’s evolution rather than revolution which is required at San Siro. Obviously some players will need to be ejected, but now is not the time to show more ill-judged loyalty to the insignificant likes – in pure footballing terms – of Serginho and Giuseppe Favalli. That faithfulness needs to be demonstrated to workers like Ringhio.
The outfit have already, through the words of Silvio Berlusconi’s puppet Adriano Galliani and boss Carlo Ancelotti, insisted that Gattuso is going nowhere. But the 30-year-old’s agent has tellingly confirmed that talks will take place at the end of the season to decide his future. It would, perhaps, be advisable for Milan to put the armband on the table. That’s an offer which Gattuso won’t be able to turn his back on.
|
|
|
|
|
Let him stay and get rid of players who are over 34!
Mikkel
Completely disagree. Despite my appreciation of the loyalty and determination shown by Gattuso on the pitch, I do believe that we now require someone more clinical alongside Pirlo and Ambrosini. Gattuso has become a liability over the past season or so. He almost always picks up a yellow card for reckless challenges, and has over blown arguments with the opposition and referees alike.
I can’t deny he has contributed a lot to the cause over the years – probably as much as any other player. But lately I have grown tired and worried of his reckless challenges. At 30, he seems to be getting more and more grumpy by the game and more annoyingly has been taking up spaces that he shouldn't be in lately.
I adore Gattuso the person, but I think it would be sound business sense if we were to sell him for the prices that have been quoted in the papers. Would Gattuso get into the midfield at United? I very much doubt it. Will he get into the Madrid line up? At his age, definitely no. If Gattuso were to leave then there is only one destination that will suit him – Glasgow Rangers.
Thank you for the memories Rino, but I would take a young and more technically astute Flamini any day.
Rosario
Gattuso has not had a great season, but at least he has played with his heart unlike some other players at the club and his technical ability is hugely underestimated. The reason Milan are where they are is because certain more gifted players have become complacent. It is not a question of age but of hunger. Rather then spending a fortune on players who have already won everything, we should be looking to players who have their best years ahead of them and still have it all to prove. Players like Amelia, Amauri and Dani Alves.
Frederick Finiguerra
|
|
| |
| |
