Dario Simic - to Fiorentina?

[Diabolico]

Milan: Il Marsiglia sulle tracce di Simic

14:50 del 10 giugno

Il Marsiglia sta seguendo con attenzione Dario Simic. Lo rivela la stampa francese. Il difensore del Milan è stato visto all'opera da un emissario del club transalpino durante Croazia-Russia. Simic è legato al Milan per altri due anni. Adriano Galliani nel corso del Workshop in Sardegna aveva dichiarato che Simic sarebbe rimasto a Milano. Probabile però che i rossoneri accettino di darlo in prestito per una stagione.

Calciomercato.com | Primapagina

It says that Marseille is interested Simic, according to the French press. Galliani said Simic will remain at Milan, but it seems that Milan may loan him for a season.

This is fine with me. Nothing against Simic, he's decent, he's just not really Milan quality in my opinion. He's an OK squad player, but we can do better.

[D-Kin]

To be honest I think you've got enough cover at the back anyway.

As you say he's a decent player but he won't be missed.

[Diabolico]

I don't know, personally I think that with Costacurta retired and Simic maybe leaving-- and Maldini not being able to play every game-- we could use another defender. Plus Serginho still hasn't renewed his contract as far as I know, so we stand to potentially be out a few defenders for 07/08.

[D-Kin]

Well as a RB he's isn't needed, Oddo, Cafu and Bonera is enough.

Nesta, Kaladze, Maldini and Bonera can all play CB so you're not in a desperate situation there either. As you say, it all depends on fitness and injuries.

[barracuda]

I've always thought Simic is underrated and a solid enough backup. But I agree that we've got more than enough coverage on the right side of the defense. It's time to let him go and get some playing time somewhere else.

[Diabolico]

I'm wary of Bonera as RB; he was so much better once we switched him to CB that it was like having a totally different player. Brocchi has played RB a couple times and to be honest I'd play him there sooner than Bonera. But yeah, either way we are 2.5 to 3 deep at RB, even with players leaving.

And maybe I'm being overly paranoid about injury, but to me four CBs is not enough, especially when one needs to be careful with his knee. I'm sure we won't have the kind of injury crisis next season that we did in 06/07, but that was truly not a nice experience and I think skimping on the CB depth could be a costly mistake.

[BlackNess]

Milan Offer Simic To Marseilles - Report

Milan Offer Simic To Marseilles - Report The Croatian defender might join the French side on loan according to the French daily newspaper, 'La Provence'.


Dario Simic could be playing in the Ligue 1 next year as Milan have offered him to Olympique Marseilles.

Apparently, two Directors of the French club went to Zagabria to evaluate the Rossonero player during the match played last Wednesday against Russia, as Marseilles are searching for a central defender and Simic could be the ideal solution.

The 32-year-old defender would gladly accept a move to the French league in order to get more playing time.

Milan will only let him go on loan considering that he still has a two-year contract with the Italian club, and with this transfer they would free up a spot for a new young defender in their squad.

Simic has hardly featured in Milan's first eleven in his fifth season with the Rossoneri following his move from rivals Inter. With Milan, Simic has won a Scudetto and two Champions Leagues.

[Diabolico]

And here's the Channel4 version of that ^ same article:

Marseille plan Simic bid
Monday 11 June, 2007
Olympique Marseille are interested in Milan defender Dario Simic according to the latest reports in France.

The newspaper La Provence claims that two French officials were in Zagreb on Wednesday to observe the Croatian player, who appeared in the Group E Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia, which ended with a goalless draw.

The Ligue 1 side is in need of an experienced central defender and Simic might represent the ideal solution for the Velodrome outfit, which ended the season in second place.

The 31-year-old’s contract with Milan expires in 2009 and Vice-President Adriano Galliani had recently stated that Simic would not leave the San Siro, although rumours suggest that the Via Turati club might consider a one-year loan deal.

The versatile defender has not been granted much playing time in the past few years and is allegedly ready to consider a move, if this were to allow him to play with more consistency.

Simic started his career with Dinamo Zagreb before moving to Inter in 1999, but failed to become a first-team regular with the Nerazzurri and opted for a move to the other side of town three years later.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Diabolico]

...But now the Marseille thing might not happen anyway:

AC Milan's Simic rejects Marseille
tribalfooball.com - June 11, 2007

AC Milan defender Dario Simic has rejected an offer from Olympique Marseille.

Leggo says Marseille made an approach for the Croatia international over the weekend, but he has turned them down.

Simic will continue with the Rossoneri next season.

tribalfootball.com - AC Milan's Simic rejects Marseille

This is still all newspaper stuff by the way, I've found no official confirmation from Milan one way or the other. (Though if he IS staying, they might not confirm his stay anyway, if the rumor of his departure wasn't "big" enough.)

[D-Kin]

I've got a feeling he'll go to another Italian club, possibly on loan.

[Aladino]

Milan: Simic nel mirino dell'Everton

22:24 del 15 luglio

Dario Simic sarebbe uno degli obiettivi dell'Everton, questo è quanto riporta il tabloid Daily Star, ma il Milan avrebbe rifiutato la cessione del difensore croato. Il club britannico deve far fronte
alle cessioni di Gary Naysmith e David Weir

Simic has been eyed by everton. But Milan have apparently refused the offer. This does come as a shock, i mean maybe to loan him out wouldn't be too bad as he needs ore playing time. Though he is usful when we have run out of RB or CB, provided he plays well

[barracuda]

We should keep him if he is happy staying, he's an excellent sub. If he wants to leave, we should sell him, not loan him out, he's too old to be loaned out imo.

[Diabolico]

If we do intend to get rid of him, I'd rather we do it sooner rather than later in the transfer season, since we'd then be left shorthanded in defense (Billy gone, Grimi gone... etc.) and would need to find a replacement.

But if he wants to stay, that's fine too, he's a decent sub.

[Aladino]

Yeah if Digao doesn't come then Simic must stay, he is just so inconsistant but that is due to his lack of playing time. When on form he is great... I still love him as a player that's why i wouldn't want him sold out right loaning is better. But if he stays and he is happy at milan... fine by me

[Aladino]

JUST LIKE AGAINST MODENA...
27/07/2007 13.48.00
“As a team we have many objectives to reach. Personally, I would like to play like last year and score some more goals. The one against Modena is too far away.” – THE WORDS OF SIMIC – (IN THE PHOTO, DARIO SIMIC TRAINING AT MILANELLO)

At the end of today’s first training session, Dario Simic gave the first interview of the new season to Milan Channel. Here are his declarations:

“This morning's session was intensive, we had a series of repetitions on the 100 metres plus 100. It’s a very demanding exercise, like it is normal that it should be. In fact, this period is the most tiring, where we work more and more heavily."

“I feel well, very well. It’s normal to feel a bit tired when you start working again after the holidays, but I’m absolutely fine physically and this is the most important thing. Little by little then also the form and the athletic condition will improve."

“With regards to the objectives of the new season, as a team, as always, we shall go on the pitch to win and repeat the successes of the past year. Winning again the Champions, but not only: there’s the league, the Coppa Italia, the Intercontinental Cup, the European Super Cup. These are all targets which we want to reach. We shall try to do so.”

“From the personal level, instead, I would like to play like I did last year. I finished the season with 35 matches played, like Bonera, one of the most used players. Also, I would like to score a bit more goals. My goal against Modena is now a distant memory. Before then, I used to score quite often. From this point of view I want to improve.”

“The league will be more difficult than last year. There’s the return of Juventus, there are Napoli and Genoa, and Inter have improved further. It will not be easy, but we shall have to do better than the previous year.”

Simic keeping the faith