[jbryant1]

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.

[jbryant1]

KAKA BACKS ADRIANO



AC Milan star Kaka believes Adriano should be leading the attack at city rivals Inter despite the Brazilian's current poor form.

The two played alongside each other at the World Cup in Germany and Kaka finds it hard to believe that Adriano does not merit a place in Roberto Mancini's Inter side.

"I believe that Adriano should always play," said Kaka. "Regardless of the fact that he is a friend of mine, he enriches football and I don't like to see him in the stands without playing, it means wasted talent."

Adriano was one of the top strikers in Serie A two years ago but he scored just five goals in 23 league appearances for the Nerazzurri last season.

He had been linked with a move abroad this summer after a dip in form but has remained at Inter.