Dream Comings and Goings in Milan

By: Martha | January 9th, 2008

Yay Karim! Like clockwork, the Karim Benzema To Milan story has come back around, again thanks to something the kid himself has told the press. Two months ago, Benzema included Milan on a list of teams that he said, rather romantically, “make him dream.” And, this time, the story is a similar one: Now an old man of 20, Benzema spoke to La Gazzetta yesterday and, during the interview, made the rather spectacular error of again combining in the words “Milan” and “dream.” Oh, boy. I mean, this is as bad as when Kaka periodically says he thinks Real Madrid are good — now they’re never going to let him alone! (Benzema also happened to mention his own affection for Real, but that didn’t stop the paper from whipping out an OMG HE LIKES THEM! headline.)

Obviously Benzema’s not going anywhere right now, but no matter how much LyonInara protests, he’s going to move on eventually, and Milan (along with everyone else) would certainly fall all over themselves to convince him to wear red and black when that day comes. And Pato and Kaka would very much appreciate having someone not yet on social security to play with.

Speaking of youngsters and Milan (I know. It’s like “military intelligence.”), the story of their interest in Nice keeper Hugo Lloris is picking up speed, albeit only at goal.com. It seems likely the 21-year-old will be sold this summer, because his contract runs out in 2009 and the club want to make sure they get value (thought to be about €7 million) rather that letting him slip away on a free down the road. Milan, however, are not exactly the only club interested in his services — Lloris is reportedly also being tracked by Lyon, and Nice have already turned down offers from both Lazio (poor Lazio) and Lens for him. And even if Milan do win that sweepstakes, the combination of the summer sale date and the endless refusals from Fiorentina mean they’re still seeking a more immediate solution to the Dida Problem.

Away from the kids, it’s recently been revealed that Ajax president John Jaakke personally asked Clarence Seedorf to come back home. Aw! Even though he plays for the wrong team in Milan, Seedorf has always been one of my favorite players in Italy, as much for his personal class and intelligence as his ability — Jaakke’d have to be crazy not to want him back. Seedorf, being who he is, has been incredibly gracious about the whole thing, despite admitting that at first he thought it was a joke. Basically, he plans to see his contract out with Milan, but after that he says, “you never know how things are going to be in the future … You should never exclude things in life, so I never say never.” (By which he means “Really, really unlikely. But thank you!”)

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Category: AC Milan, Lazio, Rumors & News, Serie A

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Martha

Well how old is Ruud, 85? For life might actually be accurate. (Thanks, ursus.)

And Inara, are you telling me all of Italy don't want to go to Man City? Impossible!
Inara47

Benzema will leave someday, yeah, but not before the summer of 2009. Anyway, with these kind of interviews, you need an entire salt shaker, the way the media likes to word "interviews." Though nothing is as bad as English media, where they act like every decent player in the world is just dying to play in the EPL. Ugh.
Martha

I thought it was recycled first, too, Inara, but my impression from reading La Gazzetta is that it's actually a new interview, with old answers. No one thinks it's happening now, obviously, but he's gonna go somewhere someday -- this sort of thing is gonna sell papers and Spain and Italy, that's why it's in the headlines there, not in France. If you were trying to sell Marca, would you pull quotes that made it sound like he was staying?! (: (The La Gazzetta interview does include those CL quotes, as well as him saying he won't leave til he's ready. Again, though, those won't sell papers.)
ursus arctos

Fetyani and Inara should be chided for bunking the Milanisti's collective high. After all, dreams are all one has when one is 25 points off the lead with less than half the season gone.

Martha, the Marca story is at http://www.marca.com/edicion/m..., under the headline "El deseado Benzema se confiesa seguidor del Real Madrid". See, he "confessed"; he's never going anywhere else.

Didn't make the front page, though, because Van Nistelrooy extended his contract "FOR LIFE" (say the by no means biased hacks at Marca).
Inara47

Guys, don't get your hopes too high. That interview is recycled from the last time he said he wanted to go to Real, Barca, Milan, or a big European club, etc. If Benzema had said that, it would be in the French press, and it isn't. But this interview is. Doesn't sound like a player who is eager to leave.

FYI, Chelsea's 40m bid for Benzema was rejected. Lyon are serious about keeping him. I can't imagine any club offering more than that. And since Benzema isn't forcing a move nor is he saying what is preference is, negotiation will be impossible at this stage.
Martha

I've seen some of those, Adam -- apparently smoking a hookah is a pretty hardcore experience!
adam

pictures of milan in dubai ronaldo and carlo smoking kaka looks stoned http://www.aliraqi.org/forums/...
Martha

Thanks, Fetyani -- I link the the interview in the post, too.

(And I can't find the Marca front page online. Anyone?)
Fetyani

this is the whole quote. he did mention Milan, but along with Madrid, Manchester, Inter & Juve. Gazzetta mainly focused on the Milan part.

"For me, the Rossoneri are my dream club,” the hitman told the Gazzetta dello Sport. “Ronaldo has always been my idol.

"I like Milan, though I must admit I do support Real Madrid. I also like the big squads such as Juve, Inter and Manchester United. The important thing is to win.”

"I will only leave Lyon once I feel in the right frame of mind and ready for the move,”
Martha

That is brilliant, ursus, I'll go try to grab a cap of that headline. I hope these writers get together for drinks regularly, and laugh about their glorious lies.

Francesco, I can help -- will email you in a bit.
Fetyani

yah gianfranco, thats the thing, but one thing no one can know for sure is whether the player will adapt quickly, it took Drogba time to settle in Chelsea. so it's always a risk whenever you get any player no matter who he is.

and if you look into it, Benzema is 9 years younger than Drogba. this season he scored 12 goals in 10 games, Drogba scored 5 goals in 10 goals so far.
Francesco

Martha, I have a problem logging into my offside site (hence the lack of posts). My email box was cleared and it contained my password to log in, which I don't know by heart. I clicked on "forgot password", but they never sent me it (this was 2 days ago). Any way you can help?
Ranjeet

How about both Benzema and Drogba????? One between Gila and Ronaldo will have to leave and Pippo may retire( i dont want him to). Pato-Benzema-Drogba......makes me dream.
ursus arctos

This is highly amusing.

Marca are running a very similar story today noting that in the same interview Benzema "sensationally revealed" that he had "always followed Real Madrid".
Gianfranco

Fetyani, I agree but a proven hitman like Drogba is hard to come by and tough to pass up, as for Loris, I still am not buying into the hype...
Fetyani

id pay whatever is needed to get Benzema, ill take him over Drogba. finally we'll have a young pair of strikers that can grow up together supported by their young mentor Ricky. we just need young defenders and most importantly a new goalie.