AC Milan Soccer News

MILAN, Italy (AP) _ Ronaldo's thigh injury is more serious than first feared, and the AC Milan forward could be sidelined for another month. The Brazilian was hurt July 31 during summer training and hasn't played since. Milan's physicians originally diagnosed Ronaldo's injury as a muscle strain and said he could return against Siena on Saturday. Further tests have revealed a more serious tear, the Gazzetta dello Sport reported Monday. ``We made a mistake in our first evaluation,'' Milan ...

ATHENS, Greece (AP) _ Thousands of police began taking up positions in Athens for Wednesday's Champions League final, while authorities arrested suspected scalpers accused of selling tickets for up to 2,500 euros (C$3,650). A Greek travel agent was arrested in Athens for trying to sell black market tickets at nearly 18 times the cover price of 140 euros (C$200) to undercover officers. A warrant was issued for an alleged accomplice. A school teacher was arrested last week trying ...

LONDON (AP) _ With the Champions League final nearly three weeks away, AC Milan midfield star Gennaro Gattuso is already criticizing Liverpool's style of play. The tough-tackling Italy World Cup star described Rafa Benitez' side as a long-ball team which was nowhere near as technically gifted as Manchester United, which Milan beat 3-0 in the semifinal on Wednesday. ``All Liverpool try to do is defend together, with everyone behind the ...

Andriy Shevchenko will not be returning to AC Milan, according to club president Silvio Berlusconi. ``It's a closed argument,'' Berlusconi said in comments published on Milan's Web site Tuesday. Berlusconi had said Saturday that he wanted to reacquire the forward, who moved to English champion Chelsea in May for 30 million pounds (C$68 million) after seven seasons with Milan. The Ukraine striker, who had 173 goals in 296 games for ...

Silvio Berlusconi wants Andriy Shevchenko back at AC Milan. ``If it were up to me, I would take him back straight away,'' the Milan owner told Saturday's edition of Gazzetta dello Sport. ``Don't forget that he was the one that wanted to leave and not even I could stop him.'' Shevchenko moved to English Premier League champions Chelsea in May in a four-year deal worth 30 million pounds (US$59 million) after playing for seven seasons with Milan. But the ...

AC Milan issued a statement Thursday saying it was not negotiating a return of striker Andriy Shevchenko, dismissing reports in Britain and Italy. ``At the moment no negotiations exist with Chelsea for the return of Andriy Shevchenko to our club,'' Milan chairman Adriano Galliani said. Shevchenko left for Chelsea in the English Premier League in May after seven seasons with Milan. He had scored 173 goals in 296 games with ...

AC Milan forward Ricardo Oliveira has found a way to keep his focus despite the kidnapping of his sister in Brazil nearly two months ago. ``I work. I work a lot. My teammates help me. I have to have faith and tranquillity and this too will be resolved,'' Oliveira said Wednesday, a day after scoring in Milan's 2-1 win over Brescia in the Italian Cup. ``I have to stay focused ...

AC Milan does not plan to acquire a goalkeeper during the January transfer period to replace injured starter Dida. ``We're not going to do anything in January. We hope he recuperates quickly,'' Milan chairman Adriano Galliani said in an interview with RAI state TV at halftime of Milan's Italian Cup match with Brescia on Tuesday. Dida is expected to be sidelined until at least February with a right thigh injury. ...

AC Milan beat Brescia 2-1 Tuesday and became the first club to advance to the Italian Cup quarter-finals. Milan advanced on 6-3 aggregate. Brazilian striker Ricardo Oliveira put Milan ahead in the 15th minute with a bouncing header from the top of the box. Four minutes later, an own-goal by Brescia defender Davide Zoboli gave Milan a 2-0 lead. A cross by Milan's French midfielder Yoann Gourcuff deflected in off ...

Inter Milan has reached the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League and is unbeaten atop Italy's Serie A. Sunday's game at second-place Palermo (GOLTV, 3 p.m. ET, tape delayed) will provide one of Inter's biggest tests so far. ``We'll enjoy this victory,'' Hernan Crespo said after leading Inter to a 1-0 win over Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Wednesday. ``But from Thursday, we'll be thinking about Palermo.'' ...

Celtic and AC Milan reached the second round of the Champions League on Tuesday, joining six other clubs that have already qualified. Bayern Munich, Liverpool, PSV Eindhoven, Valencia, Lyon and Real Madrid had already gained berths in the final 16 of Europe's top club tournament. Celtic reached the knockout round for the first time, beating Manchester United 1-0 on a curving free kick in the 81st minute from Japan winger ...

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti isn't worried that his team has only scored one goal in four Serie A games ahead of Tuesday's Champions League match against Anderlecht. Striker Alberto Gilardino hasn't scored for Milan for 699 minutes in all competitions, so Ricardo Oliveira could partner Filippo Inzaghi in attack for the Group H match at the Vanden Stock Stadium. ``We have to find different options because we've been playing ...

AC Milan was held to a 1-1 tie with Sampdoria in the Serie A on Saturday for its third consecutive draw. Striker Emiliano Bonazzoli opened the scoring for Sampdoria in the 69th minute, heading in a cross from defender Mirko di Pieri on the left flank. Left back Kakha Kaladze tied it in the 84th from close range. ``We're OK, but we're reaping less than we sow,'' Milan forward Filippo Inzaghi said. ``If we continue to play ...

Juventus and three other clubs at the centre of Italy's match-fixing scandal could have their point penalties reduced by an arbitration board this week. The board, which was created by the Italian Olympic Committee but acts independently, is the highest grade of justice in Italian sports. Juventus, Lazio and AC Milan will appear before the board on Wednesday. Fiorentina will have its hearing Thursday. Juventus was stripped of its last ...

Kidnappers of the sister of AC Milan striker Ricardo Oliveira had not contacted relatives by Friday. Maria de Lourdes Silva de Oliveira, 35, was kidnapped Wednesday morning after two hooded gunmen broke into her home in Sao Paulo. They overpowered her husband and children before taking her. The abductors had not made any demands by Friday afternoon, and police were investigating the possible involvement of one of her sons _ ...