The 63-year-old has all but assumed the role of club president since Silvio Berlusconi vacated his post earlier this week.
In an attempt to assuage the fears of investors as the Rossoneri prepare to mount an assault on the summer transfer market, Galliani insisted that all it would take is one player sale to wipe out the club’s debt – though not just any player, of course.
“To get the books back in order it would be enough to sell Kaka to Real Madrid for £55m,” he said.
The earnestness of Galliani’s statement is debatable, but the shockwave of speculation that it will undoubtedly send rippling throughout the football world is not.
It has been mooted that Milan may no longer be the spending power they once were, as they have failed to introduce any great amount of youth or superstar quality into their squad in recent times.
Some saw the ₤30 million sale of Andriy Shevchenko to Chelsea in 2006 as a sign that Milan had crested the hill, and news that they could look to offload Kaka will only further ingrain the belief some hold that the Rossoneri cannot afford to keep their marquee players.
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But one Brazilian playmaker’s exit could signal the entry of another, as Milan are currently in the midst of negotiations for troubled Barcelona star Ronaldinho.
Many questioned the move when reports of Milan’s interest were confirmed, claiming that Kaka and his compatriot could not work together at San Siro. But it could be that Ronaldinho is being lined up as a somewhat thrifty (i.e. considerably less than ₤55 million) replacement for the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year.
Galliani has dismissed claims that Ronaldinho is past his best, implying the old adage that ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’.
“Footballers are like cars, their condition changes year on year,” he said. “At the moment he reminds me of when he was at Paris Saint-Germain in 2003.
“I don't think he'd have a problem playing in the UEFA Cup either. Luca Toni has for Bayern Munich.”
There have been questions asked about Milan's transfer policies recently, and in particular their unwillingness to spend on even Ronaldinho and Shevchenko. Given the need for defensive reinforcements as well, one would think they need to spend close to 50 million euros this summer.
With investors doubtful, it will be intriguing to see how they go about this. Under the circumstances, the big worry would be if they miss out on the Champions League and its financial gains as well, for selling their biggest star is surely something the Rossoneri will want to avoid at all costs.
Mike Maguire
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