Adriano-Gilardino Swap: A Likely Outcome?

With AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani still maintaining his Adriano preoccupation, and Roberto Mancini recently stoking more fires of speculation with complimentary words for Alberto Gilardino, could the two strikers pass each other as they cross the Milan divide?

AC Milan striker Alberto Gilardino is fast falling out of favour for both club and country, while Inter forward Adriano has problems that are only too well known, culminating in his exile from first-team affairs.

Meanwhile, rossoneri vice-president Adriano Galliani has repeatedly deemed Adriano a "champion" and a player that Milan would love to have.

What's more the nerazzurri coach Roberto Mancini recently said that Gilardino would be a player that he'd love to coach.

"We have five attackers, but he is a great player and would fit in perfectly with the players that we have," added the former Azzurri legend.

Could it be a match made in heaven for each club if they were to swap forwards?

Of course, it's all still speculation at this point. While Adriano Galliani has been busy this week telling the world that "Adriano is a player [Milan] would take any day," he has also for quite a while maintained that he does not see Inter selling the player to AC.

Even more importantly, both Galliani and coach Ancelotti have recently sung the praises of Gilardino, the former praising the striker as the "future" of the San Siro club, along with new signing Pato.

Adriano's future, though, is far less secure, with Inter's words to the player about a reconciliation perhaps only the first chapter in a story that could see the player's career at Inter either end entirely or come back to life.

Galliani said yesterday that this is swap deal only belongs to 'fantacalcio'... Plus, Gilardino said that both Berlusconi and Galliani called him to reassure him that his future lies in Milan (the team, not the city (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) )!

I don't believe in this. Adriano won't come to Milan but maybe Shevchenko will...

Gosh!

The summer-shopping ended just recently, with 3 significant signings (Ba included) and 'bout 50 or more roumors and fabrications. Now, in October, it starts over again,...all the storys and all the gossip,...I guess the reporters only have to "copy-paste" their recent articles.

Yes, Sheva really has a bad time at Chelsea. I knew this would happen. I knew the EPL can only destroy players like him,..

The other Gilardino fantacalcio rumour is 'Gila to Fiorentina'. (If only they'd give us Pazzini and/or Montolivo in exchange......)

Yeah, the transfer rumors never really stop. Those poor starving journalists have to earn their money somehow!

Pazzini IS good but I don't think he'd be better than Gila in Milan! Montolivo is a must-buy, we certainly SHOULD get this guy!

i feel the same...all thought it wouldn't completely shock me if both of them come (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

i hate to say but i really see this happening...*cries*
galliani and berlusconi have a fetish for brazilian players...and after adriano it will be Ronaldinho. nuff said.

I think Adriano would rediscover his amazing form with Milan but I don't think I would swap Gila for him. Gila is a great player who is going through a bad patch, I seem to remember Sheva going through the same(in fact there were whispers that he should leave (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) ) and look how he came through!

I only managed to get a quick glimpse of the game yesterday but from what I saw Gila seemed to be linking well with Pato. I only saw a little of the game but if they can work together then we could have a good partnership for the future (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/devilsmiley.gif)

IMO, we have to think rational and in the present time and not act as prophets. Adriano could be,...but right now, the situation is - Gilardino is pretty bad, still scores (against minor teams but,..) and also has a relatively calm character; Adriano on the other side is also pretty bad right now, does not score and has character/behaviour problems too. So, let's stick with the one that misses and keeps his mout shut rather then grab the other who misses and has a bad tongue.

But don't get me wrong, Adriano is Milan material, he simply cries to be freed by us from that black-blue nightmare...

(IMG:http://www.lozoodiverona.it/images/NewBeer%20-%20Pirla%20Moratti.jpg)

Adriano might be like that because of where he is.

I don't want Gilardino to play along with a SS like Ibrahimovic. Exactly the player he needs by his side.

Agreed. Look at how well he played last season when he was next to R9.

Gilardino has this season to prove that hes worth something. If he doesn't bring it the Milan fans will continue to boo and the management will change their tune. I mean they're stuck with him so they have to show confidence in him because if they don't he probably will get worse or will maybe even quit.

Adriano is questionable. He has shown a real lack of form and a real lack of just motivation to be the best. Personally I'm not big on either of these players and feel that we could use a fresh approach. However I would take Adriano over Gila in a second.

Gilardino doesn't work in our system. Milan relys on a few players to score goals and the rest to have a tactical, defensive role. Compared to the lethality and distribution of goals of other big clubs, or goal scoring abilities are concentrated to a Kaka and our forwards. Sure you'll get a Seedorf or other person goal every once and a while. With a limit number of attackers you need a broader range of attacking abilities in players. Inzaghi has been exceptional to this because hes a phenomenal box striker and has been one of the best Italians at this position for sometime.

Gila hasn't come through to develop into a Scheva and he's 25 years old. He scores goals in games that we don't really need goals in and can't do anything in big games when we need performance. These games are the scudetto for us.

Hopefully Pato and the new Ronaldo will give us the edge we need. If Ronaldo can stay healthy we are guarenteed at least a 40 - 50% goal ratio per game. And as Emerson stated Ronaldo is a new player at Milan. Lets hope for the best.

im sure this will all go away once he starts scoring

True .. I believe that is the main reason. Along with his father passing away a yr or two ago .. Clearly he is one of the best, but his surroundings aren't helping him one bit.