Yet, this is not the answer to my question. R7 may have said the most ridiculous thing in the world or a totally bended truth, yet why getting personal? Really, we should keep staying focused and reasonable.

I'm sure he wouldn't have liked that

Because he was trolling the whole time during the Silva-Ibra rumors, posting witty comments accompanied by smiley faces, whilst we were all being very sad and angry about what was happening. Yes, I call that annoying trolling.

I was called a fucking monkey the other day and neither I nor you made such a big deal about it. we get angry sometimes and say things that we shouldn't. I don't think calling someone an annoying troll is as big an insult as you make it out to be anyway, but let's move on, OK?

I was called a fucking monkey the other day

I don't think calling someone an annoying troll is as big an insult as you make it out to be anyway, but let's move on, OK?

No, you weren't.

I sincerely wish PSG failure on all fronts though. would love to see Barca or Real put 5 goals past them.

You're right!

Actually, there was a video with some monkeys above your comment in that thread, that was what Chu was referring to.

Why?

I didn't say my problem was with debt, but taking the easy road to success. I admire Barca's way because despite their huge debt, at least most of their stars are the product of their own youth system.

He's very good. A great signing, we beat inter and bayern for his signature.


I think he's going to turn out to be like lucio. He pushes up alot LOL.


I wonder though, who has a better long shot, Kaka or him!?

Messi was nicked from Old Boys? Barca hawk other team's talents?

They signed Messi at 10 or 11, what does it matter where he was before that? they made him Messi, they taught him his football. if you ask me he is 90% if not 100% a Barca product. there's thousands of kids out there who could become the next Messis and Iniestas if given the right attention, why can't other clubs do a Barca, nick them and make world class players out of them? you make it sound so easy, like Barca do nothing really special and if Messi had ended up at Genoa (if I'm not mistaken Preziosi once said he was close to signing him!) he would've become just as great. well, no.

Bottom line is Barca do it well and do it to an extent no other club can do. that deserves praise IMO. the only thing I envy about them is their youth academy and the number of quality players it has introduced to their first team.

You seem to be overlooking Barca's success prior to the Messi era. As if they only suddenly became this great team once he became their lynchpin.

Truth is, as Acid and others agree, they became a great team at least 10 years prior to this, winning the league plenty times before Messi emerged. The Ronaldinho era started in 2003, with players like Guily, Eto'o etc. These weren't players from their youth academy, they were expensive signings.

It just clicked for them around this period, and just like Man Utd with their 'kids who can't win anything', they followed up the success of the Ron era with a team built around players they'd reared.

It didn't start there, it just continued.

Just like Utd - the Hughes, Pallister, Bruce, Robson era which saw so much success was then followed up by the Beckham, Scholes, Giggs period.

So, in a way I do agree with you, but it's not where Barca's success started.

Where/when did I even slightly imply that? how are all this even related to what I originally said:

at least most of their stars are the product of their own youth system.

???

Brazil defender Thiago Silva has told reporters that he is "sad" about his exit from AC Milan, having been forced out of the Italian side.

Thiago, 27, joined Paris St Germain last week for a fee of €42 million, having initially resisted a move to the French side.

The Brazil captain, though, insists it was not his decision to leave the San Siro and that he is "upset" by being labelled a mercenary.

"I was happy with the transfer and sad about my exit from Milan because I experienced some strong emotions there," Thiago told reporters at an Olympic news conference.

"This is football: one day you are here, the next day you are somewhere else. I had signed a new deal with them a week before. People call me a mercenary, which leaves me upset. I am not making more money at PSG. This is not my fault, I would like to apologise to the fans.

"This was a difficult situation for me: I did not want to leave Milan, and neither did my family. But it was a positive thing because [PSG sporting director] Leonardo and Carlo Ancelotti called me. When I joined Milan, it had also been Leonardo to call me. I really like him. PSG are a dream club, like Ibrahimovic said."

Thiago Silva will now lead Brazil at the Olympic Games, starting with a warm-up friendly against Great Britain on Friday, before joining up with his new team-mates in August.

Very misleading article. It's clear he's happy with the move, but would have equally been happy to stay.

For the headline to have suggested he was forced out is just total nonsense.

We accepted the bid, told him we could use the money, but he had the choice.

It's like when you move on from something you liked to start a new chapter - of course you will be 'sad' but equally I doubt he's gutted at the project he's moved to.

That's why he's said multiple times that it was a really hard decision for him to make.

Same with Kaka. Then there are those supposed ultras calling these guys mercenaries and defending the management.

Thiago: "Cassano to Inter? I feel perplexed. I didn't expect him to join the rivals. Berlusconi? When he blocked my transfer initially I was rather puzzled. But I was calm, as I was very busy then training with Brazil".

Link

Also, he must really hate #4. It was free here when Kaladze left and he didn't choose it. Now at PSG it's still free and he picks #2.

lol, I went to his wiki page after you said that and see this pic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Thiago_S...Brazil_2011.jpg

He certainly could have made this level/league. It really hurts not to see him play for us.

I think he's proven himself even more now that he was sold. It's comforting sort of to see that he still thinks about Milan. Maybe if PSG doesn't work out great for him we could see a return

He certainly could have made this level/league. It really hurts not to see him play for us.

Yep. Not that I disrespect Thiago, but he really can't be compared to Sandro, Paolo, Billy or Franco.

...yet

Well we tend to forget he's 28. Not that much time left.

Thiago still loves this club, you can read it through the lines in every interview.

Thiago still loves this club, you can read it through the lines in every interview.

And it's even harder when you know there's so little love left. I'm not sure who of the present players truly lives for Milan, like Rino, Billy or Paolo did.