[hatebreeder.nick]

Roma’s veteran defender Christian Panucci could be lured to Milan, according to rumours in the peninsula.

The 35-year-old is currently at Trigoria with the rest of the Roma players who began their pre-season training earlier this morning.

However, according to Il Messaggero, he could leave his teammates to return to Milan, where he plied his trade between 1993 and 1996.

The paper suggests that the Rossoneri have a two-year deal waiting for the Azzurri star and that Vice-President Adriano Galliani has made contact with his Giallorossi counterparts to discuss a possible transfer.

Panucci’s current contract at the Stadio Olimpico expires at the end of June 2009, which would leave him without a deal at the age of 36.

A switch to Milan would provide Panucci with the security of an extra year’s earnings and would ensure that he could close his career at the highest level.

[Tennie]

(my response cut & pasted from the transfer thread)

The rumor came out yesterday that Milan were thinking about him and there was mention of an offer for a 2-year contract, but nothing official has been mentioned by either club. Failing more information forthcoming, I'd say it's probably just a rumor.

That said, having good cover in the CB position wouldn't be a bad idea at all. Due to his age, Panucci would by necessity be a short-term solution to this issue. He's good in the air and has shown very good form in the last year, including his play for the Azzurri. While I'd prefer a long-term buy (like, say, Giorgio Chiellini from Juve), short term might not be disastrous if the kids playing for the Italy U19s really are good. Both CBs and the LB from the U19s are Milan Primavera players.

While there are reasons (his stroppy personality in particular) to be against a possible move, I wouldn't necessarily mind seeing Panucci in a Milan jersey again, if the rumor turns out to be true. I know I'm a bit of a sentimentalist, but I continue to have tremendous respect for the very classy performance a 21-year old Panucci put in in the 94 CL final (the 4-0 thrashing of Cruyff's Barcelona).