[Jack Sparrow]

Welcome our new mid-fielder Riccardo Montolivo. Once upon a time, considered the next great Italian mid-fielder, but he's never reached the heights he promised.

(IMG:http://cdn9.wn.com/ph/img/f7/4f/da1f1b60ca936d5e524ef0b46cb8-grande.jpg)

Montolivo: Stat Assessment

NEWS SNIPPETS

Riccardo Montolivo has written an open letter to fans after he left Fiorentina for Milan earlier this month.

The midfielder signed a contract until 2016 with the Rossoneri last week after refusing to accept a new deal in Florence.

“Before beginning my Euro 2012 adventure with the national team, with the hope of being there as a protagonist, I would like to thank the Della Valle family, Fiorentina and Florence for all these wonderful and unforgettable seven years spent together,” he said on the club’s website.

“The memory of this experience will always remain in the heart. They were seven very intense years, full of joy and pain, satisfaction and tears, which saw us as protagonists in Italy and on the prestigious stage of the Europa League and Champions League.

“I will never forget the scream of joy when Gila [Alberto Gilardino] scored at Anfield [versus Liverpool], as I will never erase from my memory the twin battles, epic and unfortunate, against Bayern Munich.

“I was the captain of this team and I felt on my skin how important the armband was. I wore it with pride and passion, proud to be the reference point for my teammates and for the Viola.

“In life and in professions, relationships can break down and not always in an understandable and painless way for everyone. Behind every reaction, comment or opinion, I have always felt, however, that I have had the passion for this purple shirt that represents the true heritage of Fiorentina.

“There will be times, places and ways to remember my seasons in Florence and the choices made. Although some see me as an enemy, I can only wish joy and satisfaction to Fiorentina, Florence, to my former comrades and all the people who work every day in the club with passion and dedication.

“Finally, I’d like to send a greeting and a warm embrace to those who stood by me during these years.”

Montolivo, signed from Atalanta in 2005, has joined the Rossoneri on a free transfer.

[Fillipo Simone]

Midfield misleading Milan

I think this is a good read from Football Italia:

Milan’s struggles this season have been well documented, but underperforming individuals in midfield have masked a decent collective. Dylan Fahy writes.

The frontrunners in Spain, Germany and England dominate the top three outfits with the highest pass accuracy in Europe’s best Leagues this season. However, behind respective League-leaders Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United hover a struggling Milan. The Rossoneri have slumped to seventh in Serie A this term, but have sustained incredible passing exploits behind underperforming individuals.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side have managed to maintain an 86.3 per cent passing accuracy, with the peninsula’s perceived imperious passers Juventus, Fiorentina and Lazio further behind. On top of their efficiency in distribution, the San Siro residents have the eighth highest average possession on the continent with 58.1 per cent – while only the Bianconeri can claim a higher medium among Italy clubs.

How have Milan stuttered to such an extent this season compared to the sides around them in these statistical tables then? The middle of the park has been a real sticking point for club, and a genuine lack of clinical assist providers has been evident. The exodus of players in the summer has greatly reduced their ability to create, and the remaining batch have simply not been able to live up to previous standards.

Aside from being the Rossoneri’s top scorer, forward Stephan El Shaarawy has also been the team’s main provider domestically this season with three setups alongside Urby Emanuelson and Robinho. There are an additional four players on two assists, but of those there are two full-backs in Mattia De Sciglio and Ignazio Abate and two attackers in Bojan Krkic and Giampaolo Pazzini.

Kevin-Prince Boateng, Antonio Nocerino and Riccardo Montolivo have amassed a single setup each in Serie A throughout the current campaign. The trio have been the spine of the starting lineup, and since Nigel De Jong ruptured his left Achilles tendon before the winter break and captain Massimo Ambrosini was recently dealt a month long layoff they have been practically irreplaceable.

Boateng has largely been employed as trequartista to limited success, and was one of the worst firing midfielders in Europe before finally scoring against Catania – later receiving a straight red card in the same game. Nocerino has lost the spark this campaign, after finishing the club’s second top scorer last term. His mistakes against Bologna, Lazio and Torino have all directly led to goals. Montolivo has been the brightest of the lot, and has showed unexpected leadership qualities, but has otherwise been blunt.

Milan’s headquarters on Via Turati has been rife with activity since the beginning of January. The arrival of Empoli youngster Riccardo Saponara at the end of the season looks to be an excellent move for the future. Speculation surrounding former playmaker Kaka in recent days does not fall in line with the new project, but there is no doubt that something has to be done to spark this team’s midfield to life.

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