Trimmed Cerci can help Milan trim gap, says Berlusconi

MILAN (Reuters) - New AC Milan signing Alessio Cerci has been half-jokingly ordered to shave off his scruffy beard by owner Silvio Berlusconi who believes the improving Rossoneri can do little more to better their squad.

Trimmed Cerci can help Milan trim gap, says Berlusconi

(Reuters)





Cerci will officially join Milan on loan from Atletico Madrid as part of the swap deal with Fernando Torres when the Italian transfer window opens on Monday and trained with the seventh-placed Serie A side on Saturday.

"We have been following Cerci for three years. Finally he has arrived and he has already promised me he will cut off his beard for his first match," Berlusconi told Milan Channel as he visited the club's training ground.

"This year we have two objectives as you know, third place in the championship, which is necessary to get back into the Champions League, and we also have our sights set on the Coppa Italia.

"I think we have the chance with this squad to return to being major players in Italy, Europe and the world. I believe we don't need to wait for reinforcements to what we have now."

The former Italian prime minister has been heavily criticised by Milan fans for their fall from grace in recent years after he vastly reduced the big spending which brought the club a raft of honours in the 1990s and 2000s.

They could only finish eighth last term in Serie A but now lie two points behind third-placed Lazio under rookie coach Filippo Inzaghi.

Italy winger Cerci, who only joined Atletico from Torino in September, could make his Milan debut at home to Sassuolo on Tuesday.





(Writing by Mark Meadows, editing by Tony Jimenez)


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: Reuters


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world