World famous Italian club AC Milan arrived in Malta last night to a noisy welcome at the airport from thousands of their fans in Malta chanting “Milan, Milan” and other Rossoneri slogans.
Strict security was the order of the day at the airport as the players were whisked away into the waiting Red and Black coach soon after they appeared at the arrivals lounge.
Most of them had their digital cameras but there was at least one stop – from Brazilian Kaka – as a fan managed to get pictured with him.
From the airport, the Milan contingent, which also included team manager Sig. Ramaccioni and other officials, took the 25-minute trip to Ghajn Tuffieha for the Radisson Golden Sands Resort where they will be accommodated during their one week stay in Malta.
During their visit here, Milan will be holding an intensive training camp with most of the training sessions being held behind closed doors at the Ta' Qali training grounds. Some other sessions are also scheduled to be held on the sand at Golden Sands Bay, just below the resort.
All the top players in Carlo Ancelotti's squad, with the exception of the injured Nesta and Serginho, have made the trip to Malta.
The following are the top players who have made the trip:
Goalkeepers: Dida, Zeljko Kalac, Valerio Fiori
Defenders: Cafu, Paolo Maldini, Kakha Kaladze, Alessandro Costacurta, Dario Simic, Marek Jankulovski, Giuseppe Favalli, Daniele Bonera, Leandro Grimi (to arrive today).
Midfielders: Gennaro Gattuso, Clarence Seedorf, Andrea Pirlo, Kaka, Joann Gourcuff, Massimo Ambrosini, Cristian Brocchi
Strikers: Filippo Inzaghi, Marco Borriello, Alberto Gilardino
As can be seen from the list of players, Brazilian striker Ricardo Oliveira is not included in the squad. He is not coming over for the training camp, though he might arrive later on. Tomorrow Argentine 21-year-old Leandro Grimi, who is expected to sign for Milan in this month’s transfer window, is expected to join the squad in Malta, as will Brazilian goalkeeper Dida, who is expected to arrive tomorrow.
The highlight of this visit will be the friendly match against local champions Birkirkara next Tuesday at the National Stadium, commencing at 7.30pm.
Next Saturday, the squad, accompanied by a planeload of Maltese football fans, will be travelling to Milan to play against Juventus for the Berlusconi Trophy. That match is to be played at the San Siro Stadium at 5pm.
Soon after the match, the squad will return to Malta to continue with their preparations.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti said last week he wanted to prepare his players in a most intensive manner as they could not have a proper pre-season training last summer due to the fact that the club passed through an uncertain time because of the Calciopoli scandal. In fact, their presence in the Serie A and the Champions League this season was kept on hold till the very end.
It is the second time Milan are visiting Malta. The first occasion was way back in 1968 when they met Hibernians at the Old Gzira Stadium. That day, Milan beat Hibernians 2-0.