MILAN – The circle closes. Back in the summer Antonio Cassano had the title to his name but was still looking to carve out a space for himself in the team. Market rumors said he was sure to leave the team while his coach and team mates encouraged him to put himself on the line.Then he was given the captain’s armband in Bari where Italy played world champions Spain, he scored in Malmoe pre-season, and on the opening day in Serie A against Lazio at the San Siro. A big month and a half for the player and prior to that fateful night on 29 October, Cassano had carved his name into this season’s starting lineup.And now after work, work and more work, Cassano is back where he needs to be. Big second half performances against Fiorentina, Genoa and Bologna mean that he’s available to Italy ahead of the European Championships and just yesterday Prandelli (who back in June had said: “Whoever isn’t playing for their teams loses self confidence and I want players who play often. Antonio has to make space for himself), spoke of the psychological strength of Antonio Cassano. The Jewel of Old Bari continues to shine.
Cassano’s season to date:PRIOR TO 29 OCTOBER: 9 league games and 3 Champions League games685 minutes in Serie A and 214 in the Champions League 2 goals against Lazio and Palermo 3 assists for Ibra (Lazio), El Shaarawy (Udinese) and Yepes (Lecce)
FROM EASTER SATURDAY:3 league appearances,80 minutes played

MILANELLO – The players were on the pitch at 11.00 to listen to a team talk held by Massimiliano Allegri and then went to work until just before 13.00.After a long running warm up and some ball possession in two groups, the players spent half an hour working on their tactics followed by another half an hour practice match.Thiago Silva, Boateng and Ambrosini completed the entire session with the rest of the team.Ibrahimovic and Nesta spent today’s training session in the gym, whilePato and Inzaghi trained apart.For the end of training 11-a-side training practice match, Antonini, Nocerino, Abate, Yepes, Ambrosini and El Shaarawy didn’t take part due to the high numbers of players available.Training tomorrow is scheduled for 11.30 after which Massimilano Allegri will hold his press conference.
 

MILAN – Here are the facts and figures from 34 league games this season ahead of Siena-Milan on Sunday afternoon.
THE LAST FIVE GAMESSIENA - Siena-Udinese 1-0, Atalanta-Siena 1-2, Inter-Siena 2-1, Genoa-Siena 1-4, Siena-Bologna 1-1.MILAN - Catania-Milan 1-1, Milan-Fiorentina 1-2, Chievo-Milan 0-1, Milan-Bologna 1-1, Milan-Genoa 1-0.
THE FIVE MOST USED PLAYERSSIENA - Brienza 2902 minutes, Terzi 2870, Vitiello 2801, Rossettini 2769, Del Grosso 2639.MILAN - Nocerino 2924 minutes, Abbiati 2627, Ibrahimovic 2592, Abate 2562, Thiago Silva 2428.
ASSISTS - Ibrahimovic 71, Robinho 45, Brienza 42, Emanuelson 33, Cassano 29, D'Agostino 29, Seedorf 24.GOAL SCORING ASSISTS - Robinho 7, Aquilani 6, Cassano 6, Ibrahimovic 6, Brienza 4, Emanuelson 4, Boateng 3.SHOTS AND GOALSSHOTS - Ibrahimovic 119, Destro 59, Brienza 51, Robinho 48, Nocerino 45, Calaiò 43, Emanuelson 35.GOALS - Ibrahimovic 24, Calaiò 11, Destro 10, Nocerino 9, Boateng 5, Robinho 5, Brienza 4.
MILAN STATISTICSPOSSESSION: 29:54 minutes per gameSHOTS ON TARGET: 6.3PASSES: 665.3PASSES COMPLETED: 70.8 %TERRITORIAL ADVANTAGE: 13:26 minutes spent in the opponent’s halfATTACKING INDEX: 61.4 % measurement of how dangerous the team is going forward
SIENA STATISTICSPOSSESSION: 22:24 minutes per gameSHOTS ON TARGET: 3.9PASSES: 515.1PASSES COMPLETED: 60.3 %TERRITORIAL ADVANTAGE: 8:00 minutes spent in the opponent’s halfATTACKIN INDEX: 42.5 % measurement of how dangerous the team is going forward(Source: Panini Digital for legaseriea.it)

AC Milan, the most successful Club in the world, arrives on Tencent, the major social networking platform in China, with an official account updated every day in chinese language, available at http://t.qq.com/acmilan.The brand new AC Milan Tencent “Weibo” (which is the Tencent way to define the “accounts”) provides daily news from the Club, behind the scenes stories, real time updates on all matches of the season, exclusive images, videos and much more. The red&black account on Tencent reinforces the digital strategy that the Club is pursuing on social networks, with official pages on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google + and Flickr. All of these pages have recorded great success among supporters from all around the world (i.e.: facebook.com/acmilan will soon reach 10 million fans, becoming one of the most followed and popular Italian facebook account).  
According to Giuliano Giorgetti, Head of Web&New Media at AC Milan, “ we are very proud to know that AC Milan have a huge number of chinese supporters: the Tencent account will allow us to get closer to them and to know them better, thanks to a direct communication, which is typical of our social network channels. Together with the Tencent team, we’ll publish exclusive and special contents for the online community. Social media enable the AC Milan brand to be spread worldwide, and therefore they definitely represent a key asset in our internationalization strategy .”
Yongzhi Wang, Deputy Chief Editor of QQ.com, expressed that “AC Milan, as a megamoth Club with millions of fans around the world, is at a similar milestone with Tencent - China's largest internet enterprise, serving millions of users globally as well. AC Milan's official Chinese Weibo with Tencent is a winning collaboration that will doubtlessly reach and benefit many AC Milan fans in China. As China's leading social media platform, Tencent's Weibo will become the leading communication channel between AC Milan and Chinese fans”.
AC Milan is also present in the chinese digital market with a dedicated version of the official website www.acmilan.com and with an account on Sina.com.

MILAN – The Milan Marriott Hotel is set to host the 17th "Premio San Siro Gentleman", an award ceremony for the players who have stood out throughout the season for their fair play. In the evening three Rossoneri players will receive the following prizes: the "Gentleman" award to Antonio Nocerino, "Il miglior giovane" for the best young player to Stephan El Shaarawy and the "Fair Play" award to Clarence Seedorf.

MILANELLO - 1999-2012: 13 years in a row for Milan Junior Camp in Italy and the World. The numbers speak volumes of the club’s ability to promote this cause. In the summer of 1999, Milan had 6 camps in Italy and last season 16,297 kids were followed by 280 club coaches in 159 locations in 42 countries for a total of 293 weeks of activity. Children from Ulan Bator, Sidney, Rio De Janierio, New York, Yokohama and Munich trained with the camps showing a real worldwide presence. Parents today who wish to enroll their children in the camp will certainly find an offer to suit their needs. There are the traditional summer camps where the kids stay in the football camp, there are the ‘city’ camps where the kids play and have lunch before heading home and there’s even the Elite Camp for goalkeepers under the supervision of Valerio Fiori as well as football camps with language lessons in Ireland and Ireland as well as in Spain.
The success of this project lies in the combination of sport, fun and health and offers all the participants to train under expert supervision. The kids involved in the Milan Camps follow the latest training methods of physical preparation as well as technique and tactical improvement. The coaches are the best in the world as the club has invested a significant amount in them through the Milan Academy where all the Milan coaches study their trade.
 Of course the highest attention is paid to the health of the children involved. Milan have been monitoring the general well being of all the youth sector through tests done by MilanLAb for the last two years. At the end of the Milan Junior Camp, all parents receive detailed information regarding the physical health of their children.
The words, quantity, quality and continuity best describe the reasons behind the success of the most decorated club in the world and the most successful when it comes to the organization of events for young players, one of the pillars of the club’s success: The children themselves and the club’s desire to allow them to play the best game in the world from the youngest age possible. Milan junior, through marketing, scouting, research and education allows more than 40,000 children the world over to play the beautiful game thanks also to the participation of Intesa Sanpaolo, Addias, Pigna, Sky, Mediaset premium and Fly Emirates.
MILAN JUNIOR CAMPS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
There are also other initiatives such as those organized after the earthquake in Aquila thanks to the collaboration of Taci Oil group as well as the initiative directed at diabetic children. In 2011, thanks to the BCD campaign, IDF and Diabetes Italy, Sanofi and the Milan Foundation helped to send 70 diabetic football fans to the camps free of charge. This initiative will be repeated this year. In order to guarantee top levels of serenity and security, the coaches have received special training to deal with the needs of diabetic kids in the training pitch. Educational material has also been sent to all participants and their families regarding the importance of a healthy lifestyle both on and off the pitch. Last year’s experience has shown that this condition need not be a limit to sporting activity and can help to break down social barriers such as prejudice and preconceptions regarding the condition. Milan’s social initiatives don’t stop there either. Defender Luca Antonini helped present ‘Instradando In Campo’, a road safety initiative backed by various the city of Milan’s police force. The themes of road safety will be taught to the future drivers through the game of football. The project has been recognized and awarded by the region of Lombardy.

MILAN – The 18th edition of ‘The San Siro Gentleman Awards’ took place last night at the Milan Marriot Hotel. The ‘Gentleman’ award went to Antonio Nocerino, ‘Best Young Player’ went to Stephan El Shaarawy and the ‘Fair Play award’ went to Clarence Seedorf.

Kenny Dalglish insists if AC Milan do not want on-loan midfielder Alberto Aquilani then he is happy for the Italian to return to Liverpool.

Kenny Dalglish insists if AC Milan do not want on-loan midfielder Alberto Aquilani then he is happy for the Italian to return to Liverpool.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish insists if AC Milan do not want on-loan midfielder Alberto Aquilani then he is happy for the Italian to return to Anfield.

Former Chelsea and AC Milan
coach Carlo Ancelotti has shrugged off media speculation he is
only a short-term appointment at Paris St Germain by committing
himself to the French club for “as long as possible”.

MILAN - Rossi is suspended for Siena ahead of the match in Tuscany on Sunday while Destro, Gazzi, Giorgi, Larrondo, Manini and Rossettini areall a booking away from a ban. The same is true for Abate, Ibrahimovic, Mexes, Seedorf, Yepes and Zambrotta.

MILAN - Osvaldo (Roma) has been given a two macth ban following his red card, while Jankovic (Genoa), Colucci (Cesena, Boruc (Fiorentina), Bostjan (Chievo), Candreva (Lazio), Stendardo and Cigarini (Atalanta), Cuadrado (Lecce), De Rossi (Roma), Floro Flores (Udinese), Matri (Juventus), Morganella (Novara), Moras and Rennella (Cesena), A. Rossi (Siena) and Stankovic (Inter) have all been given one match bans.

MILANELLO – The players started training at 11.00 on the central pitch today with the entire session being watched by national team coach Cesare Prandelli.After some ball work to start, the Rossoneri spent 156 minutes working on ball possession, 35 minutes working on tactics and ended with a 25 minutes practice match.The palyers who started the game yesterday spent the session in the gym while 15 outfield players spent the session outside as well as keeper Amelia. Thiago Silva, Cassano and Gattuso all trained with the group. Ambrosini, Pato and Inzaghi all trained apart while Boateng and Muntari followed personalized training programs.Training tomorrow is scheduled for 11.00.
 

MILANELLO - Cesare Prandelli had this to say to the Milan Channel after watching training at the Milanello sports centre today: "I can see that Cassano is playing more and more and that's important for a player of quality like him. I thing he's doing well psychologically as well. I came here to see exactly that and I'm satisfied."

MILAN - The Milan Junior Camp initiative is now 13 years old and last year had more than 16,000 participants in Italy and the world over.The Milan Foundation is also repeating the initiative aimed at diabetic children. Click here for more details.

Milanello, 26 April 2012 - 1999-2012: 13 years in a row for Milan Junior Camp in Italy and the World. The numbers speak volumes of the club’s ability to promote this cause. In the summer of 1999, Milan had 6 camps in Italy and last season 16,297 kids were followed by 280 club coaches in 159 locations in 42 countries for a total of 293 weeks of activity. Children from Ulan Bator, Sidney, Rio De Janierio, New York, Yokohama and Munich trained with the camps showing a real worldwide presence. Parents today who wish to enroll their children in the camp will certainly find an offer to suit their needs. There are the traditional summer camps where the kids stay in the football camp, there are the ‘city’ camps where the kids play and have lunch before heading home and there’s even the Elite Camp for goalkeepers under the supervision of Valerio Fiori as well as football camps with language lessons in Ireland and Ireland as well as in Spain.The success of this project lies in the combination of sport, fun and health and offers all the participants to train under expert supervision. The kids involved in the Milan Camps follow the latest training methods of physical preparation as well as technique and tactical improvement. The coaches are the best in the world as the club has invested a significant amount in them through the Milan Academy where all the Milan coaches study their trade. Of course the highest attention is paid to the health of the children involved. Milan have been monitoring the general well being of all the youth sector through tests done by MilanLAb for the last two years. At the end of the Milan Junior Camp, all parents receive detailed information regarding the physical health of their children.The words, quantity, quality and continuity best describe the reasons behind the success of the most decorated club in the world and the most successful when it comes to the organization of events for young players, one of the pillars of the club’s success: The children themselves and the club’s desire to allow them to play the best game in the world from the youngest age possible. Milan junior, through marketing, scouting, research and education allows more than 40,000 children the world over to play the beautiful game thanks also to the participation of Intesa Sanpaolo, Addias, Pigna, Sky, Mediaset premium and Fly Emirates.MILAN JUNIOR CAMPS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITYThere are also other initiatives such as those organized after the earthquake in Aquila thanks to the collaboration of Taci Oil group as well as the initiative directed at diabetic children. In 2011, thanks to the BCD campaign, IDF and Diabetes Italy, Sanofi and the Milan Foundation helped to send 70 diabetic football fans to the camps free of charge. This initiative will be repeated this year. In order to guarantee top levels of serenity and security, the coaches have received special training to deal with the needs of diabetic kids in the training pitch. Educational material has also been sent to all participants and their families regarding the importance of a healthy lifestyle both on and off the pitch. Last year’s experience has shown that this condition need not be a limit to sporting activity and can help to break down social barriers such as prejudice and preconceptions regarding the condition. Milan’s social initiatives don’t stop there either. Defender Luca Antonini helped present ‘Instradando In Campo’, a road safety initiative backed by various the city of Milan’s police force. The themes of road safety will be taught to the future drivers through the game of football. The project has been recognized and awarded by the region of Lombardy.

MILAN – In the month of April, the two games where clean sheets were kept were those played with Sandro Nesta and Mario Yepes at the back. Daniele Bonera has never disappointed and the injury to Thiago Silva hasn’t helped but with Nesta and Yepes in front of the goal, Milan didn’t concede against Chievo in Verona or against Genoa yesterday evening at the San Siro.Another statistical  point that should be underlined: With 71 points this time last season, Milan would have been 5 points ahead of Inter on 66, 6 ahead of Napoli on 65 and 11 ahead of Lazio on 60. Despite the numerous injuries, Milan have confirmed their spot this season at the top end of the table.

MILAN - The official website of Siena, Milan's next adversary in the league, reported on the Bianconeri's morning training session.The players involved in yesterday's match warmed down while the others had a practice match. Brienza was given a rest day while Destro trained alone. Calaio is continuing with his personalised program as he recoversf rom injury.

MILAN – At the Hotel Marriot this evening in Milan, the ‘San Siro Gentlemen’ awards will be presented for the Milanese players who displayed commitment to fair play. The ceremony will be presented by Massimo Caputi and Claudia Gerini.There will also be a prize for the best Inter and Milan goal of the season as well as awards for ‘Revelation Gentleman’, ‘Showman Gentleman’, ‘Sportsman Gentleman’, ‘European Gentleman’, ‘Career Gentleman’ and ‘Gentleman for Peace’.