[misha]

According to reports in Italy, Milan are absolutely desperate to sell Nelson Dida, but are finding it an impossible task due to the goalkeeper’s astronomical wages.

Dida’s 2007/08 season with the Rossoneri was nothing short of disastrous, and there have been constant reports in the press that he will be sold this summer.

The first half of the Brazilian’s campaign was ridden with errors, including a costly one in the Milan derby before Christmas. The 34-year-old eventually lost his place to Zeljko Kalac in January, and did not feature again for the remainder of the campaign.

This coming campaign, Dida looks likely to be third choice goalkeeper behind Kalac and the returning Christian Abbiati.

With this in mind, it is being reported in Italy that Milan have no space for the 34-year-old and are absolutely desperate to offload him from their wage bill.

Unfortunately, the club are finding it impossible to find a buyer because Dida currently earns an astronomical €4.5m a season, with his contract at San Siro running until 2010.

If the Rossoneri were to release Dida on a free transfer it could cost them a small fortune in compensation. Thus Milan find themselves in a sticky situation over what exactly to do with the former Cruzeiro man.

Roberto Rossi

[acid911]

Buffon. Is. Not. Perfect. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

There is no perfect keeper in the world, and it is the same for every club: keepers will always be volatile. Of course, some are better than the rest, and others are in a completely different league. Besides, Buffon wasn't anything special in the recent Euros (particularly the first match against the Dutch). One of the very best keepers in the world? Yes. At times the best? Maybe. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) But that still doesn't mean he wont let in any goal. Consider our match against Bayern last CL, those two goals towards the end. If our team is not good enough to keep possession of the ball near the end of a match, then the opposing team will always have a chance to level up.

But I guess if a guy like Kaladze can earn well over 4 million a year, making disaster after disaster that's alright. Or Brocchi. Or hey Digao for 1 million every season? Emerson, anyone? Oh, oh, we're getting near. Or Carlo taking a good 6 million a year for finishing, what, 5th! Technically, that's all money being wasted on players that don't have a place in Milan. Not only that, but they compromise young players from making it to the first team.

A million or two doesn't matter folks for Milan - The Company. We're the richest club in Italian football. Sixth in the world, and fifth highest earning with overall revenues of 238.7 million euros. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) And this was last season ( or two). Hello? Hello! Not to mention of 54 million operating income. But never mind that, we're a private entity. No one gives a crap about record books or auditing. The underhand deals, don't get me stared. And the club officials come out and have the guts to talk about wages. Yeah, right!

As for Dida, I've always been of the opinion that we're not bound to offer him $$$ if people don't like it. Give him his chances, see how he performs. If it's below expectations, then sell him, buy him, cut his wages, loan him, do whatever you want. Last time I checked he's not the owner. And probably the only person who earned the talk is Paolo. And oh, he want's a couple of cents more, and we make an issue of it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) Not forgetting that he makes in and around 1-2 million, while Nesta in the range of 6 millions per year. They roughly both play the same, what with their injuries, and all. That's 33%. So I guess what I'm saying sis that wages should be no excuse for us, seeing ourselves as the top 6 clubs in terms of cash. Same goes for Dida. And any other player.

If he is so much of a trouble, take a deep breath and offload him (taking any losses along the way). Or work out a smaller wage structure. If not, then for Pete's sake, keep quiet. It's only 1 or 2 million extra for what a regular 3rd keeper would get - assuming someone like Kalac earns over 2-3 millions for warming the bench. When he used to. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Unless, of course you don't want a third keeper and two will suffice. In which case we can save some bucks. Like a small Serie B club. And in time of a problem we can make Emerson the emergency keeper.

Geez, I need some sleep. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Zzzz!

[kurtsimonw]

As for Dida, I've always been of the opinion that we're not bound to offer him $$$ if people don't like it. Give him his chances, see how he performs. If it's below expectations, then sell him, buy him, cut his wages, loan him, do whatever you want.

Great post, and I agree with most of it. Just not this bit. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) But like you said, no-one's perfect. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I think the last thing we can afford to do is give him yet another chance to prove himself. If it doesn't work out, we can almost say goodbye to the title. If we slip up early, we'll be eating Inters dust before we're even off the starting line. Kalac was a surprise last season, but still made a few mistakes, Dida is nowhere near good enough anymore and as for Abbiati.. as far as I know he hasn't ben performing badly in the teams he's been loaned to, so we should go with the best, and that's him.

If Dida was to play and not be good enough, it's not as easy as just trying to sell him to someone. I wouldn't want him at my team, that's for sure, and who's going to want to pay this sort of money for a has-been keeper? He isn't an idiot, well, he is.. just les of one that Galliani, so why would he leave when he has a huge contract that he can just sit on the bench with? I know what I'd do in his position.

[Habitant]

Great post, and I agree with most of it. Just not this bit. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) But like you said, no-one's perfect. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I think the last thing we can afford to do is give him yet another chance to prove himself. If it doesn't work out, we can almost say goodbye to the title. If we slip up early, we'll be eating Inters dust before we're even off the starting line. Kalac was a surprise last season, but still made a few mistakes, Dida is nowhere near good enough anymore and as for Abbiati.. as far as I know he hasn't ben performing badly in the teams he's been loaned to, so we should go with the best, and that's him.

If Dida was to play and not be good enough, it's not as easy as just trying to sell him to someone. I wouldn't want him at my team, that's for sure, and who's going to want to pay this sort of money for a has-been keeper? He isn't an idiot, well, he is.. just les of one that Galliani, so why would he leave when he has a huge contract that he can just sit on the bench with? I know what I'd do in his position.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)