Gianluca Zambrotta [Barcelona]

[D-Kin]

Zambro cools Milan talk Wednesday 16 January, 2008

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Azzurri defender Gianluca Zambrotta is flattered by Milan’s interest, but insists that he is focused on life at Barcelona at the moment.

Milan President Silvio Berlusconi has made no secret of his desire to sign the former Juventus stopper and is confident that a deal can be reached in the summer.

“Zambrotta wants to come to Milan and I don’t think that we will have trouble coming to an agreement with Barcelona,” the Rossoneri chief stated recently.

However, it seems that the man himself is less desperate to make a move, despite reports that his wife Valentina is suffering from homesickness.

“I was pleased to hear that Berlusconi and Ancelotti want me, but I am still a Barcelona player,” he asserted.

“I have a contract there until 2010 and at the moment I don’t want to think about a future away from here.

“We will see what happens, but at the moment I don’t intend to talk about a possible move.

“Perhaps Berlusconi was carried away after Milan’s win over Napoli and he exaggerated the link to me.”

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[D-Kin]

One Barca player who is likely to be swapping La Liga for Serie A is Gianluca Zambrotta, though, as Galliani suggested.

“He is a player who we are interested in and we’ve made that clear to Laporta too,” continued Galliani. “If Barcelona decide that they are prepared to release him then we will buy him.”

Milan are looking for a high-profile full-back seeing as Marcos Cafu and Paolo Maldini will be leaving Milanello at the end of the season.

Zambrotta, who left Italian football following Juventus’ Calciopoli demotion, can play both on the right and left.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Zambro plans Italian swansong Monday 28 January, 2008

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Gianluca Zambrotta remains tight-lipped on a possible move to Milan, but the Azzurri defender admits that he wants to end his career in Italy.

There have been regular reports linking the former Juventus man with a move to San Siro and President Silvio Berlusconi has claimed that a deal is as good as done.

However, Zambrotta has stressed his desire to achieve success at current club Barcelona for the time being, even if he expects to return to the peninsula at some stage.

“I’d rather not comment on a possible move to Milan,” the 30-year-old said in an interview with Italian lifestyle magazine Tu.

“I can only say that this period abroad is a life choice for me and is a new experience.

“Of course I won’t discount anything for the future though. I have never made a secret of my desire to finish my career in Italy.”

Sources have suggested that Gianluca’s wife Valentina is feeling homesick in Spain and itching for a transfer, but it seems that the defensive star has his emotions in check.

“I miss Italian people and the food a bit,” he admitted. “Most of all though, I miss my family and friends, but I think that is normal for every Italian who lives abroad.

"Nonetheless, in an hour and a half by plane I can be home and that allows my wife Valentina and I to come home to Como regularly. I am enjoying my life here.”

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