Ancelotti: I choose AC Milan

Milan Coach Carlo Ancelotti has dismissed rumours that he wants to leave San Siro this summer.

It hasn't been a successful season for the Diavolo who are out of the UEFA Cup and out of Scudetto contention.

And there have been regular Press reports linking Ancelotti with a switch to Real Madrid this summer.

“I just work and I don't pay attention to these whispers,” Ancelotti told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I still haven't found a good reason to leave Milan. I am happy here and I will stay for a long time yet.

“However, while I am happy to stay here I have always stressed that it takes two to keep the marriage going.

“As long as we secure third place and Champions League qualification for next season I am ready to stay.

“Then we can build a great future around Kaka and Alexandre Pato. We have solid foundations so we won't need to make sweeping changes. The supporters are behind us but they want us to win,” he concluded.

LET'S RECHARGE OURSELVES! (Interviews with Luca Antonini)

Here are the declarations made by Luca Antonini to Milan Channel's microphones, today at Milanello, before the team's afternoon training session:

Luca, today the training restarts, after Sunday's match at Napoli.
"Yes, it's our first day of work. There aren't many of us because a lot of players are with their national teams, but those of us who are here will have the right spirit every day. This extra week will be useful to get some 'fuel' for the matches left until the end of the season. We'll face the break with the right tranquility, but also with the right commitment. For players like me who don't play that much, these will be important days to work hard and try to put the coach in difficulty in his choices."

When the league resumes Milan will face Lecce, Chievo, Torino, and Palermo. Matches that seem easy on paper.
"In the last few years the Serie A has become more difficult because also the 'small' teams can put you in difficulty. Milan will have to do well against these teams and finish the season by qualifying for the Champions League. Our objective is the third place, but we will also try to finish second. The first four matches will be important. We also have Lecce and Torino, who have recently changed coach, so they will face these matches with a different spirit than before considering that the clubs decided to make a change to give the players a boost. Chievo are doing well recently and are obtaining good results, but first of all we have to think about doing well against Lecce who are our first opponents."

How are Milan doing?
"The team is doing well, in the second half against Napoli they were better, but in the first half we were the better side. We knew it would be difficult to play in Naples, then they tried to give it their all because they were coming off a difficult period. Milan, in any case, are doing well, we are running and these two weeks will be useful to the team to prepare well and resume the season well."

How are you doing, Luca?
"I'm doing well, I'm waiting for my moment and I wait for the coach to give me a chance and take advantage of it. I made many sacrifices to come to Milan and I'm ready to make more."

Gourcuff return to AC Milan??

France starlet Yoann Gourcuff insists his time at Milan was positive and could return to the Rossoneri in the summer.

The 22-year-old fantasista is currently on loan at Bordeaux and has produced some truly world-class performances.

French newspaper L'Equipe hailed him as the “New Zidane” after he scored a wonderful goal against Paris Saint Germain earlier this season.

Gourcuff joined Milan from Rennes in 2006 and made just 47 appearances in two seasons with the club.

He enjoyed a difficult relationship with Coach Carlo Ancelotti and grew bitter at the lack of first team football available.

“At Milan we didn't play the football that I was used to,” Gourcuff said in an interview with France Football.

“The play was more fluid, a little slower and more reflective. Everyone occupied a specific area on the pitch and the technical quality was a lot higher than that seen in the French League.”

Gourcuff, who has become the focal point of the France national team, then admitted that Milan and Andrea Pirlo schooled him well.

“Pirlo is fantastic, I learned a lot from him, as I did from Clarence Seedorf and Ricky Kaka,” he enthused.

Bordeaux have a right to buy Gourcuff for £12m written into the loan deal they settled with Milan last summer.

The French outfit are struggling to raise the capital to buy Gourcuff outright, though, and he may well end up back at Milanello.

His feud with Ancelotti may prompt Milan to put him on the market again, however, as he is now believed to be worth at least £25m.

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are reportedly interested in his signature and Milan, who are in need of capital themselves, could well cash in.

Defense Revolution in The Next Season

Milan are planning to overhaul their defence once the transfer window opens again in the summer, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The Rossoneri backline has often been criticised this season for being old and is in need of rejuvenation, especially in the light of Paolo Maldini's retirement.

Another defensive talisman, Alessandro Nesta, has a chronic back problem and could well be forced to retire sooner than expected.

Kakha Kaladze is out until the middle of August and Milan do not plan to exercise their right to buy Philippe Senderos once his loan from Arsenal ends in the summer.

Milan, who have already brought in Thiago Silva and Felipe Mattioni to bolster their backline, have drawn up a shortlist of five names.

The Rossoneri are interested in Arsenal full-back Gael Clichy, Liverpool centre-back Daniel Agger, Sao Paulo's Joao Miranda, Palermo's versatile Simon Kjaer and Porto's Bruno Alves.

Agger is the most likely to end up in Rossonero next season, as his contract expires in 2010 and he could be available at a cut price.

Any deal for the Denmark international would therefore fit nicely with Milan Vice-President Adriano Galliani's budget cuts.

Transfers for the other four could be a lot trickier, though, as they each cost in excess of £12m and are highly prized by their clubs.

AC Milan consider Kanouté

Milan are considering a summer swoop for Sevilla hitman Frédéric Kanouté, according to the Spanish Press.

The Rossoneri are expected to make some significant signings at the end of the season after failing to reach their objectives.

Despite Vice-President Adriano Galliani's warning that the economic crisis will slow the market, there have been multiple transfer rumours.

Kanouté was a target for the Diavolo after the sale of Alberto Gilardino, but they opted for Alexandre Pato instead.

According to Spanish newspaper AS, Kanouté remains an objective and could be a summer reinforcement.

However, Sevilla are believed to be keen to keep hold of Kanouté and are lining up a new contract.

Kanouté is tied to Sevilla until 2010, but at the age of 31 he could be traded in if a bid is significant enough.

It is possible that Milan may choose a younger model though and they have been linked with PSG starlet Guillaume Hoarau.