Gattuso to leave Milan in the summer ?

[D-Kin]

Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has admitted that he likes English football but he believes his future will be with Milan.

The world champion has been linked with a move to Manchester United, whom he will face in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

“I once said my dream was to play in England and that the team I liked best was United,” Gattuso told The Sun.

“I really like the atmosphere in England and I think my style is probably more suited to English football than Italy,” added Ringhio.

“You cannot be anything other than proud when the United Coach wants to sign you. Some contacts were made in the past, however I see my future at Milan now.”

Gattuso was part of the Milan team which defeated the Red Devils on the way to the 2005 Champions League Final against Liverpool in Istanbul, an evening he will never forget.

“After that Final I wanted to quit the club, not because I didn’t like Milan any more but because I was so sad about what had happened,” explained the Rossonero.

“Now I would really like to play Liverpool in the Final again. First however, we must face United. Cristiano Ronaldo is probably among the top three or four players in the world but United’s whole team will be strong.

“Both United and Milan have some players left from when we met in 2005, but this match will be totally different from then,” concluded Gattuso.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Diabolico]

He's made statements like this before, but I don't give it too much weight. Rino talks a lot but is usually pretty straightforward-- if he says he likes English football yet still sees his future at Milan, I trust that.

[Aladino]

Yeha i am not worrying about this, he announced after Milan's loss in Istanbul that he wnated to leave but I guess he couldn't. the fans needed him more than ever. He portrays such confidence and faith to the fans. We needed his "grinta" and faith more than anythign in those dark times.

GRANDE RINO! SEMPRE UNA MILANISTA!

[Diabolico]

Gattuso: I'll keep sweating blood for AC Milan
tribalfooball.com - April 25, 2007

AC Milan midfielder Rino Gattuso has pledged his future to the club after last night's 3-2 defeat at Manchester United.

Gattuso was jeered as he was stretchered off in the second-half, but did not take it personally from a club he has so often been linked to.

"The fans all over the world are the same. They cheer on their own colours and jeer the opposition, that's as it should be.

"Those rumours about me and Manchester United have been going for years, but I sweat blood for the Milan jersey and it is part of my life. I want to keep wearing it for a very long time."

tribalfootball.com - Gattuso: I'll keep sweating blood for AC Milan

[Aladino]

Grande Rino, i reda that some where else too! He loves this club, and he is immense for Milan. Couldn't imagine Milan without him!

[Diabolico]

HONOUR AND PRIDE
4/30/2007 11:13:00 AM
Rino Gattuso has written an open letter to leading Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera highlighting the values of Italian football and calling on the Milan fans to get behind the team on Wednesday

By Rino Gattuso

Milan will play a decisive encounter on Wednesday evening. Ever since I have worn this great club's shirt, I have played in so many of these high-tension games that I don't remember them all. Against Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney and Giggs we Rossoneri will hold the honour of Italian football high, but also render our history more prestigious because no one has played four quarter-finals in the last five years of the Champions League. If we manage to overcome last week's defeat at Old Trafford then we have the possibility to play in a third final. Considering all the problems over the last year, it is a miracle to have arrived here. Milan were forced to start from the preliminary round which changed the preparation, with us world champions called back from our vacation. We paid for what was an injustice. Then we had lots of injuries (Nesta, Kaladze, Kaká, Inzaghi, me too), but in spite of everything, nobody has yet been successful in sinking us. Now we have a chance of knocking out a side like Manchester United and it will take something special: the help of our fans.

We will put in pride, passion and experience. However, our fans will have to give something more. We want an atmosphere like Old Trafford last Tuesday, heated and correct. Manchester United were in difficulty and after the break the crowd got behind them and dragged them to victory. Also in the name of my team-mates, we call on the San Siro to give us that final push to Athens. Give us a hand in our difficult moments against a great side like [Sir] Alex Ferguson's, don't let us down. We can take this historical assault together, we will go to Athens together. Then if, even if we with our desire to do something special, Manchester United demonstrate they are stronger than us, we will accept that verdict sportingly. At the end, we have won something important. Remember the official communication from UEFA at the start of the season that they would keep an eye on our games and our behaviour? I, like the whole dressing room, still feel bad about that. However, it's wonderful that UEFA, in the person of Michel Platini, has acknowledged our efforts and our correctness. He said that the game at Old Trafford between us and Manchester United has been a beautiful advert for football. We have taken a moral revenge and it would appeal to us to make another advert and turn things around at the San Siro, with our victory. And if you, fans and friends, get behind us for ninety minutes, then maybe we will make it.

A.C. Milan - HONOUR AND PRIDE

[Aladino]

Beautiful, it sounds beautiful in English, in Italian sounds 10 times better. I read this earlier on in Italian, and Gattuos couldn't have said it better. What a leader it's a sold out stadium and I am sure the tifosi will be there 100% behind Milan. The curva will look magnificent, the ultras singing, and colours the players. if only I could be there. FORZA MILAN!! We hold you on our hearts and forever you will be. No matter what!

[Diabolico]

What a game today for Gattuso, huh?? Here's the latest interview:

Gattuso: We proved everyone wrong
Wednesday 2 May, 2007
Gennaro Gattuso is the heart and soul of Milan and said they should be “proud” of their Champions League campaign.

“We are happy, as reaching the Final at the end of a season that started this way is incredible. Not even we thought we could do it!”

The 3-2 first leg defeat at Old Trafford was overturned with a 3-0 victory over Manchester United, setting up a repeat of the 2005 Final against Liverpool.

The Rossoneri were originally kicked out of the competition in the wake of the Calciopoli scandal, but were reinstated through the Preliminary Round after an appeal.

UEFA were upset at the decision and released a note saying they would be keeping a very close eye on Milan’s actions.

“At the end of the day UEFA complimented us for the football we play and that has to fill us with pride. Nobody even bet a Euro on our chances, but we proved our true worth,” added Gattuso.

It has been a remarkable year for the midfielder, who also lifted the World Cup with Italy at Germany 2006.

“This is totally different from the World Cup, as you cannot compare club to the Azzurri shirt. The emotions I felt at the World Cup are beyond anyone’s comprehension.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Forza_Roma]

I didn't see the match, but apparently, he was a horse again today. Limiting Ronaldo on the ball. This was necessary if Milan were going to advance. Ronaldo was the key to the puzzle, solving him, you solve United. That's what Roma didn't do against United. We let him have a field day against us.

[Diabolico]

He was fantastic; it's hard for me to pick one man of the match today, but Gattuso is definitely a contender for the title. He completely shut down Ronaldo, which as you said was a real key to beating United.

And then near the end he started going into full-on Ringhio mode (not that he wasn't already), picking fights and making hand gestures that gave the ESPN commentators some pause and eventually getting a yellow card. After that he was subbed out for Cafu just to keep him from picking up a second yellow, made an audible "primal scream" as he walked to the bench, and started slapping Ancelotti's cheeks once we got into extra time.

God I love Gattuso.

[jec1]

The whole Man U players played like shite. Ronaldo didn't have any room because of Gattuso, Clearly he did his Job.

Giggs stinks -- It's time for Nani to arrive cause if they had him, They would've produced chances. A playmaking CM is what they need but there too cheap.

[Jager]

To me, Gattuso was part of the reason the Milan midfield dominated this game. When they are on, they can be a thing of beauty and Rhino is just incredible at getting under the skin of opponents.

This is the reason we won the WC, with Gattuso and Matrix, we have that are covered.

[Diabolico]

Rino is simply immense for Milan. When he isn't playing or is having a bad game, we look a different side. He is THAT important, and it's no coincidence that some of Milan's worst weeks this season coincided with the weeks he was out with injury (nor that Milan's loss at Old Trafford began when he was carried off the pitch).

He is not the sole reason we rise or fall, but his presence or absence is often a factor in it. I would not at all hesitate to say he is as important to Milan as Kaka.

[Aladino]

Ah what a beautiful game he had. You can't not but love him, such a world class performance. He blocked off Ronaldo so well with Oddo, he is a legend. And teh english teams are wishing they had a player like him. Such a great leader too, and he inspired the whole team.

GRANE RINO, now one more game to win, and we can pick up that trophy