[misha]

The Correire dello Sport claims that AC Milan are on the verge of making a definitive offer for Real Madrid's Julio Baptista...

The Correire dello Sport reports that AC Milan are set to bid for Real Madrid's out-of-favour attacking midfielder Julio Baptista.

The Brazilian playmaker, who spent last season on loan at Arsenal, is out of favour at the Bernabeu, and the paper reports that the Milan technical staff see the player as ideal to complete their squad.

So a move could make sense. But that leaves many details to thrash out.

Madrid are said to be open to the prospect of a loan, but would only sell the player completely for a significant sum. Milan, however, are unwilling to splash the cash on the player for the time being.

However, they could still yet land the player. Apparently, rossoneri vice-president Adriano Galliani offered his Madrid counterpart Pedja Mijatovic a fee of 2 million euro up front for the loan, with a further 12 million in a buyout clause, on July 29.

No further negotiations have taken place since then, but it is understood that the offer is still there for the taking - and Madrid may now be close to accepting it.

Nothing is signed and sealed yet, and it remains just a rumour, but contact between the two over the 25 year old, 35 times capped Brazilian international has been confirmed in the past.

With the recent arrival of Arjen Robben, and a host of midfield talent already arriving at Madrid this summer, Pedja may feel that it's best to cash in on Baptista before the transfer window slams shut tomorrow.

[dst]

The news in Spain is that he decided to stay in Madrid for this season.

Oh no!!! Why?? WHY?? WHYY!????????!?!? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cry.gif)


... Thank Paolo!

This post has been edited by dst: Aug 30 2007, 04:57 PM