Milan rule out Chivu move

MILAN vice-president Adriano Galliani has dropped further clues as to the nature of the Rossoneri's involvement in the summer transfer market, but indicated that much-coveted Ajax defender Cristian Chivu is not San Siro-bound.

The Romanian international defender has been in excellent form as Ajax continue to press for a place in the last eight of the Champions League following two hard-earned draws with Arsenal.

Many of the top clubs in Europe want Chivu, but Galliani has asserted that Milan will not buy the player in the close season.

"There won't be big changes necessarily in June because Milan's plan is to confirm the current group of players," stated Galliani.

"Our policy is to buy players already on a high level, to win immediately, while the younger players have to grow in other teams.

"I don't want to name names. If I tell you that I like Ajax defender Chivu, his price will double in a second.

"Anyway, we won't buy Chivu.

"I can only say that the new player will be a champion, already at the top, and also, even if he is already 33 years old, in a season he will be able to help us make a jump in quality, so we'll surely buy him."

The intriguing comment would seem to suggest Galliani has his eyes on a veteran defender, who is good in the air and on the ground, and, although former Rossoneri hero Marcel Desailly immediately springs to mind, the Chelsea man is 34. 

"In 17 years of dealing in the market with Milan, I have made mistakes," added Galliani.

"But I understand one thing - we cannot line up young talent any more.

"I make the example of Massimo Donati. With Atalanta, he made a very good performance but, once he arrived with us, the impact of his new reality caused him many problems.

"Probably, we have to buy young talent and give them the possibility to grow elsewhere. With Rossoneri, we need players who are already professors."

Once again, Galliani decided to question the merits of England captain David Beckham and the prospect of the Manchester United midfielder heading for Milan.

"Beckham?" he stated. "I don't know if he could make good things in Italy.

"He has a big talent, but he's English and would probably have problems in adapting to the Italian game.

"Brazilians, Argentinians and East European players have a better yield."