AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has insisted that the Rossoneri intend to keep Robinho despite reports suggesting that Santos FC, the Brazilian’s former club, are interested in bringing the 28-year-old back to his homeland when the transfer window reopens in January, Sky Sports understands.
“Robinho? Our intention is to keep him, then we will see,” Galliani told Sky Italia.
Robinho has started just three Serie A matches for Milan this season, tallying one goal — a match-winning penalty against Juventus at the San Siro on 25 November — and two assists.
The former Real Madrid winger has played second fiddle to 20-year-old Italian sensation Stephan El Shaarawy, who has bagged 12 goals and two assists in 15 league appearances in 2012-13.
El Shaarawy has also added two goals and one assist in five UEFA Champions League matches, and has undoubtedly been Milan’s best player in all competitions this season.
Despite El Shaarawy’s stunning form, Milan are currently in 7th-place in the Serie A table.
Nonetheless, Galliani is not willing to break the bank in January, revealing a ‘sell-first, then buy’ transfer policy for the upcoming transfer window.
“There are 32 players in the squad, and if nobody leaves then nobody will come in,” added Galliani.
“We’ll have to sell first and then buy, otherwise we’ll stay as we are.”
Llorente set to leave Bilbao
Out-of-favour Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente has revealed that he will leave the Estadio San Mamés when his current contract expires at the end of the season, Sky Sports reports.
Llorente, 27, has been relegated to the bench by Los Leones’boss Marcelo Bielsa this season.
Bielsa has Aritz Aduriz, formerly of Valencia and Mallorca, ahead of Llorente on his depth chart at the moment, fueling speculation that Bilbao are set to sell Llorente in the upcoming transfer window, with Arsenal and Juventus reportedly keen on the striker.
Llorente has started just one league match for Bilbao this term, netting a grand total of two goals in 17 appearances for Los Leones in all competitions.
Of his 17 appearances, the Spain international has started just three of them, one in each competition: the Spanish Copa del Rey, La Liga and the UEFA Europa League.
It has been an absolute nightmare of a season for Llorente, who recently confirmed that he will be leaving the club on 30 June at the latest.
“I am going to leave on June 30. I want to develop as a player and try something new,” revealed Llorente.
“It isn’t about money because the offer the club made was irresistible.
“The media have not helped with the negotiations and it is one of the things that has generated the bad atmosphere around me out on the pitch. This has encouraged me not to renew my contract; this and many other things.
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