Month: September 2014

Van ginkel to make debut in Parma match

AC Milan Chief executive Adriano Galliani has claimed that Chelsea midfielder Marco van Ginkel resisted the lure to join the Italian club on a season-long loan deal. The Dutch midfielder moved to Chelsea last summer for around £ 8 million, but he missed most of last campaign due to an anterior crucial ligament injury. He has regained his fitness during pre-season and was part of several friendly matches in the summer. However, the presence of players like Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic ahead of him in the pecking order may see first team opportunities limited for the 21-year-old.
It is highly expected that Van Ginkel will make his first appearance in a Milan shirt in the league match against Parma after the international break. Galliani says that Van Ginkel do not want to move to the San Siro since he wanted to fight for his place at Chelsea. However, a lot of convincing from Milan’s another new signing from Chelsea, Fernando Torres, appears to have done the trick. Torres moved to Milan on a two-year loan deal that effectively brings an end to his Chelsea career since he has only two years left on his contract.
After losing a number of top players in the last few years, Milan certainly need quality in the midfield and Van Ginkel may provide it. This could benefit all parties. “Van Ginkel initially resisted our advances. At a certain point we set him an ultimatum, but then I realised he wouldn’t join us like that and I told him that I was joking. It was not that he did not want to join Milan, but he is a huge talent and he thought that he could become a starter at Chelsea. However, Jose Mourinho, who is a great coach, thought that playing for Milan after eight months on the sidelines due to injury would be best for him,” said Gallaini.