As Maxi Lopez was spotted in the stands, Adriano Galliani confirms the 19:00 Friday deadline for Carlos Tevez.

“Both want Milan at any cost.”

The club has made it clear that either Catania striker Lopez or Manchester City’s want-away Tevez will be signed over the January transfer window.

“By tomorrow at 19:00, we will deposit a contract with the Lega,” declared the Vice-President on Milan Channel after the 3-1 Coppa Italia victory against Lazio.

“A clue? I’ll tell you our new striker will be from Argentina and his surname ends with a ‘z’…

“Maxi Lopez is a marvellous lad and I don’t know what to say, as the next 24 hours are an enigma for me too.
“It is a new thing for us, locking down a player for several days, but whatever happens Maxi will be a Milan player in July. It is his dream to come and play for us.”

Galliani has made it clear that Tevez is the first choice, but Manchester City are still standing firm on refusing a loan move.

“Both Tevez and Lopez care very much about Milan and want to come here at any cost, so that is pleasing.

“Catania were very understanding about the situation, more so than other clubs, but we’ll only talk about that when this is all over.”

Tevez could soon be appearing in the red and black of Milan…

Milan have insisted they will make a decision over pushing through a move for Carlos Tevez tomorrow.

The Rossoneri are in the process of choosing to bring in either Tevez or Catania striker Maxi Lopez, but have not yet made their decision.

Signing Tevez could be tough, with Milan having failed to find an agreement with Manchester City despite weeks of talks.

But now the Italian champions are the only show in town after Paris Saint-Germain and Inter went decidedly cold on bringing in the 27-year-old.

Milan would still likely have to come up with a more convincing proposal for the Citizens, though they have already agreed personal terms with the player.

Vice-president Adriano Galliani has insisted however that the final decision over who to bring in has not yet been made.

“Tonight, I have just watched some games”, Galliani said to Gazzetta dello Sport.

“On Friday we’ll choose out of Maxi Lopez and Carlos Tevez”, he added.

“Maxi has been very nice, but we’ll see. He will remain at Catania or he will join us.”

Milan appear set on resuming talks to sign Carlos Tevez from Manchester City after Paris St. Germain failed to get him.

Local media reported Wednesday that Milan vice president Adriano Galliano planned to meet Manchester this week to reopen negotiations that began in late December as the Devils looked to replace Antonio Cassano, who is recovering from heart surgery.

Earlier this month, talks stalled over Manchester’s request for an immediate sale of the Argentine, with Milan preferring a loan deal with full purchase at season end in June.

The transfer fee for Tevez is believed to be about €28 million.

PSG sports director Leonardo was on Tuesday quoted as saying that his big-spending club failed to reach an agreement on a transfer of Tevez.

Inter Milan have also been keen on the 27-year-old international, who, however, has reportedly said Milan were his first choice after he fell out of favour at Manchester last September.

However, Khaldoon Al Mubarak has warned Milan and Tevez that City will not be bullied into letting the Argentina striker leave on the cheap.

The Blues chairman, who has remained tight-lipped on the club’s transfer dealings and day-to-day business, last night took the unprecedented step of speaking out after losing patience with Milan’s bargaining tactics – and Tevez’s continued absence.

Mark Hughes is expected to unveil new signing Taye Taiwo at some point on Tuesday as the left back signs on loan.

Milan left-back Taye Taiwo is “very close” to signing for QPR.

The 26-year-old joined the Rossoneri from Marseille in the summer but has struggled for a regular first-team berth.

Taiwo had been linked with a January move to injury-plagued Arsenal but now looks set to join QPR, with completion of the deal subject to a work permit.

The west Londoners confirmed the Nigeria international is “very close” to signing on their official phone-in show, London Call-In.

Several media outlets have reported the signing as completed, but QPR said they are “waiting for everything to be put into place before we make an official announcement”.

Reports suggest Taiwo will pen a six-month loan deal and he was pictured with manager Mark Hughes on Twitter on Thursday afternoon.

Milan remain optimistic of bringing Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez to the San Siro as Maxi Lopez deal nears completion…

Milan have renewed their interest in the Argentinian despite pulling out of discussions with City earlier this month.

Asked about the out-of-favour striker, Milan boss Allegri told Sky Italia: “Am I optimistic over Tevez? I’m always optimistic in life.”

He added of the club’s transfer ambitions this month: “We feel good. The club have a good knowledge of how to move.

“I just want the Rossoneri. My destiny is at Milan: thanks, but no to PSG”, reports M24digital.

Also, Catania striker Maxi Lopez is set to complete a permanent transfer to Milan on Monday, according to the Italian media.

The Argentina forward, who is also a reported target of Fulham, has been strongly linked with a move to the San Siro outfit since last month.

Gazzetta dello Sport claims Lopez’s agent Andrea D’Amico as well as Catania and Milan executives are holding talks on Monday at the Rossoneri’s headquarters in Milan’s Via Turati with a view to seal the deal.

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Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has not spoken to midfielder Kaka for four months, according to former president Calderon.

Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon, who was in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu from 2006 until 2009, has claimed that head coach Jose Mourinho has not spoken with Kaka in the last four months.

Calderon added that several Spanish players are unhappy with the situation at Los Blancos as well, with former Borussia Dortmund star Nuri Sahin also allegedly having a difficult relationship with the Portuguese coach.

“The players are no longer happy. He [Mourinho] hasn’t spoken to Kaka once in the last four months,” Calderon said to Ona FM.

“The Spanish players are unhappy with their situation because of the privileges Mourinho gives to the Portuguese players.”

He added, “And then there’s the situation of Sahin. The reason he doesn’t play is because Mourinho doesn’t like him.”

Real Madrid face Athletic Bilbao at home in their next league match tonight.

The Algerian targets making his way into the first XI right away…

Djamel Mesbah has revealed his delight in joining title-chasing Milan from relegation-threatened Lecce this January transfer window.

The Algerian international completed a move from the Salentini earlier this week, signing a contract until June 2016.

After his first day of training at his club, the 27-year-old versatile left-sided player reflected on the move with Milan Channel.

“I am pleased and proud to have signed with Milan. I arrive with great humility and desire to grow. Arriving at Milanello was impressive, my new teammates have all been very kind to me on my first day too.

“I hope to fit quickly so as to make myself immediately available to the Coach.

Mesbah has revealed that he does not mind where he plays and would have no problem being deployed on the wing by the Italian champions, who have been often accused of lacking width in midfield.

“I’ve scored a few goals in my career, especially when playing wide in midfield. In Lecce, I have been working mainly as a defender, but I also like to play in the opponents’ half.”

Mesbah could make his first appearance for his new side in Sunday’s Serie A clash with Novara.

Click to view slideshow.

If this is true, then is it the right way to treat a legend like this one?

Paolo Maldini has claimed that he has been repeatedly frustrated in his attempts to embark on a coaching career with Milan.

Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo revealed earlier this week that he is keen for his former Rossoneri team-mate to take up a coaching role with the French club, and that the legendary Italian defender is currently thinking things over.

The news has raised the question as to why Maldini has never been taken on by Milan and the 43-year-old claims that it was not for the want of trying on his part.

“[Club president Silvio] Berlusconi had spoken clearly [about it] and even [board member] Barbara [Berlusconi] had mentioned my name but the reality is that I have not been offered anything,” Maldini told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“In these years I have asked to return before Leonardo [was coach] and then Allegri, but I always found a locked door at the club.”

“Leonardo would have wanted me close to the team; I would have been useful for him in any role. For Allegri, I would be the meeting point between team and society.”

“One explanation is simple – Milan do not want to take me back.”

When asked if he has been offered a position within coach Carlo Ancelotti’s backroom team at PSG, Maldini replied: “For now, no, but this does not mean that it won’t happen.”

“I met the president: there is great mutual respect with him as well as Leo and Carlo.”

“PSG is a club that is restructuring. They have not won [anything] for some time in France but they want to start doing so at the highest level in Europe.”

“There, everything is changing, everything.”

“I know what I can give: experience, love for this sport, the desire to engage in a serious project. But I never asked anything of anybody.”

Maldini attended PSG’s victory over Toulouse last weekend but he insisted that it would be a mistake to read too much into his presence at the Parc des Princes.

“In Paris I went only to find two friends,” he said. “Leo has been inviting me for a long time.”

“We decided to surprise Ancelotti on the occasion of his first game [in charge] – even if Carlo knew everything [in the end].”

Returning to Milan’s reluctance to welcome him back into the fold, Maldini mused that it could have something to do with his propensity for straight talking.

“I’m not afraid of telling it like it is and maybe that might be the problem,” he said. “Down the years I’ve acquired an intellectual independence which I don’t intend to give up.”

Meanwhile, Maldini admitted that he has been really enjoying himself of late playing seven-a-side football.

“After a lifetime as a defender, I have a taste for dribbling and scoring goals,” he said.

Maldini made league 647 appearances for Milan during his 24 years with the club as a player.

Pato scored an extra-time winner as Milan edged past Novara 2-1 in their Coppa Italia last-16 tie at the San Siro.

Milan will meet Lazio in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals after a 2-1 extra-time victory over Novara at San Siro on Wednesday.

A sensational first-half strike from teenager Stephan El Shaarawy appeared to have sent the hosts through, but Novara midfielder Ivan Radovanovic converted a last-gasp free-kick to restore parity and ensure there would be a further 30 minutes of action.

But the underdogs’ brave efforts eventually proved futile as super-sub Alexandre Pato netted a 100th-minute winner to secure safe passage to the next round.

Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri elected to go with something of a second string line-up, resting the likes of Pato, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho, Thiago Silva and Ignazio Abate. He handing starts to Alexander Merkel – having returned to the club on-loan from Genoa on Tuesday – as well as veteran Filippo Inzaghi and El Shaarawy.

And after a slow first quarter of an hour in which the hosts held significant territorial control without threatening, Inzaghi should have given his side the lead when he headed Luca Antonini’s teasing cross wide from just six yards.

Almost immediately, Novara struck back at the other end, when Simone Pesce forced a smart save from Marco Amelia with a powerful shot from distance.

However, Milan would eventually take the lead their play merited in the 24th minute, after El Shaarawy drifted inside Paolo Dellafiore and unleashed a stunning, swerving strike from 22 yards which crashed into the net past Novara goalkeeper Alberto Fontana.

Italy Under-21 international El Shaarawy was proving to be a constant thorn in Novara’s side, and he was only denied a second goal by superb goalkeeping from Fontana eight minutes before the break.

Milan re-assumed control after the break, with El Shaarawy remaining a hugely influential figure. But the hosts’ attacking moves would, time and again, break down in and around the final third.

One the rare occasions everything did open up, Urby Emanuelson, who was occupying the playmaker role, proved wasteful.

On the hour mark, the Dutchman dragged a woeful shot well wide of Fontana’s left-hand post, to Antonio Nocerino’s visible frustration. Seven minutes later, he side-footed weakly into Fontana’s arms from close range.

Milan’s failure to put the game to bed was eventually punished in the 89th minute when Radovanovic reached a free kick rolled to him by Pesce and rifled a low shot through a ruck of players and into Amelia’s bottom right-hand corner, sending the tie to extra-time.

The additional time eventually burst to life in the 100th minute as Milan retook the lead, thanks to wonderful link-up play between Brazilian substitutes Robinho and Pato.

Pato fastened onto a magnificent flicked pass from his compatriot before touching the ball over the advancing Fontana and rolling into the net to make the score 2-1. It turned out to be the winning goal.

The same opponents will again square off on Saturday, this time in Serie A

The quarter-final tie between Lazio and Milan will be played on Thursday, January 26.

Milan have swooped to sign Algeria left-back Djamel Mesbah from fellow Serie A side Lecce…

Milan have completed the signing of left-back Djamel Mesbah, with Lecce announcing the lost their defender on their website.

The Stadio Via del Mare outfit have not released any information about the transfer fee or the length of Mesbah’s contract with the San Siro outfit, but revealed that they have secured the services of Milan youngster David Speziale on a co-ownership deal, starting at season’s end.

Mesbah, 27, joined Lecce from Swiss side FC Luzern in 2009 and has been an ever-present figure in the Serie A club’s rearguard since then.

The Algerian should be a cheap option, a fee no higher than €5 million, for the Rossoneri and will not take up a non-EU spot due to moving from another Serie A side.

The arrival of the Algeria international at San Siro will strengthen suggestions that Taye Taiwo could be on his way out of the club in the January transfer window.

The Nigeria international has voiced his unhappiness with his situation, having made just eight appearances since joining the club from Olympique de Marseille in the summer.

Meanwhile, Lecce have announced that loanee Rodney Strasser has been allowed to return to Milan after suffering an injury which will rule him out for the rest of the campaign.