Latest Serie A News

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INTER STILL ON TOP, ROMA STAY ALIVE

Two late goals from captain Francesco Totti enabled Roma to take the race for the Serie A title to the final weekend as the Giallorossi hit back to beat Cagliari.

With leaders Inter Milan edging out Chievo 4-3, Roma had to beat the Sardinians at the Stadio Olimpico to prolong the battle for the Scudetto.

And when Andrea Lazzari powered home a free-kick after 73 minutes it was looking bleak for the home side.

But Totti's neat turn and shot dragged them level before he then slotted home an 83rd-minute penalty to hand Roma the victory.

There was no lack of drama at the San Siro either as Inter had to withstand a late Chievo fightback to hold on to a win which keeps them two points clear with one game remaining.

Thiago Motta's own goal gave the Genoa-based side the lead before Andrea Mantovani also put through his own net to drag Inter level.

Esteban Cambiasso, Diego Milito and Mario Balotelli put Jose Mourinho's men in total control only for late goals from Pablo Granoche and Sergio Pellissier to cause a few nerves for the Nerazzurri.

AC Milan, in third, went down to Giuseppe Sculli's 56th-minute goal at Genoa and also had Mathieu Flamini sent off late on while the race for the final Champions League spot will also go to the last weekend after fifth-placed Palermo and fourth-placed Sampdoria drew 1-1 in Sicily.

Samp would have clinched a place in Europe's elite club competition with a win, a scenario which looked on the cards when Giampaolo Pazzini's 54th-minute penalty put them ahead.

But Fabrizio Miccoli levelled from the spot with 20 minutes to go to keep Palermo two points adrift with one game to go.

At the other end, Atalanta's relegation was confirmed with their 2-0 defeat at Napoli.

The hosts, who will play in the Europa League next season, won it with two goals from Fabio Quagliarella.

Atalanta will join Siena and Livorno in Serie B.

Siena managed a creditable draw at Fiorentina on Sunday afternoon while Livorno went down 2-1 at home to Lazio.

Simone Vergassola handed Siena an early lead at the Stadio Artemio Franchi but Marco Marchionni levelled after 14 minutes.

Cristiano Lucarelli scored Livorno's goal either side of strikes from Tommaso Rocchi and Cristian Brocchi.

Bologna and Catania played out an entertaining draw on the day both sides sealed their Serie A survival for another season.

The two clubs knew a draw would be enough to beat the drop, and that is exactly what they served up as Maxi Lopez's second-half leveller cancelled out Marco Di Vaio's opener for the hosts.

Bari and Parma enjoyed fine wins away at Udinese and Juventus respectively.

Paulo Vito Barreto put Bari in front only for Antonio Di Natale and Simone Pepe to turn the game around.

Vladimir Konan restored parity six minutes before half-time and Sergio Almiron netted the winner in the final minute.

Alessandro Del Piero and Vincenzo Iaquinta scored for Juve at either end of a pulsating encounter but, in between, a brace from Davide Lanzafame and a Jonathan Biabiany effort secured Parma the win.





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ITALIAN MEDIA SALUTE ANCELOTTI



Italy's media gave a big salute to Carlo Ancelotti on Monday after he guided Chelsea to an 8-0 romp over Wigan which clinched the Barclays Premier League title in his first year at the club.

Sunday's demolition of Wigan on the last day of the season left the Blues one point clear of Manchester United in the standings.

Gazzetta dello Sport highlighted Ancelotti's achievement by putting a photograph of the former AC Milan manager holding the trophy on their front page.

"King Charles of England; no Italian coach had ever won the Premier League title. Ancelotti champion in his debut year," read its headline.

The Italian guided the Blues to their first Premier League crown since 2006, when Chelsea were coached by Jose Mourinho.

Ancelotti could also lead the Stamford Bridge club to the double if they beat Portsmouth in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

"Ancelotti triumph," was Corriere dello Sport's headline. "He is the first Italian to win the Premier League."

Turin-based Tuttosport also hailed the Italian tactician.

"Ancelotti, oh yes, the Premier is his," read its headline.

National newspaper La Repubblica not only showered praise on Ancelotti but lauded the club for playing an attacking style of football.

Chelsea set a new record for the number of goals scored in the Premier League with 103, five more than that established by Manchester United in 2000.

Four times this season, Ancelotti's side won by 7-0 scorelines and they surpassed that with yesterday's avalanche of goals.

The Blues also beat United home and away with the 2-1 success at Old Trafford during the crucial run-in.

"Ancelotti triumphs in his first try," was La Repubblica's headline.

"Vedi, vini, vici: Carlo Ancelotti conquers England in his first try and becomes king of London."





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REJA RELIEVED AS LAZIO STAY UP

Lazio coach Edy Reja heaped praise on his players after Sunday's 2-1 win at Livorno secured their Serie A status.

The result lifted the Biancoceleste into 15th place - eight points clear of the drop zone heading into the final week of Serie A.

"In the end, I think Lazio have proved their worth, which is not reflected in the standings," said Reja.

"At one point of the campaign we really feared the worst and that is why we have celebrated this win which sees us defend our Serie A status."

Reja's relief was understandable as they have endured a dismal campaign.

The Eternal City outfit were eliminated from the Europa League before the winter break and were knocked out of the Coppa Italia.

Their poor run of form, which had seen them plummet to the 17th position after four wins and nine defeats in 23 league games, brought to an end Davide Ballardini's coaching spell at Lazio.

Since the arrival of Reja back in February, the Biancoceleste have claimed 21 points in 13 games en route to defending their Serie A status.

"I have to thank my players," said Reja. "They have given everything they had to make sure the team remained in the top flight."

Reja, whose side end the season at home to Udinese on Sunday, is already looking forward to the future.

"I think we can start over next season with the same group of players in order to construct a team able to fight at a certain level," he said.





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LEONARDO ACCENTUATES THE POSITIVE

AC Milan coach Leonardo preferred to focus on the positives after his team's 1-0 loss at Genoa on Sunday.

Despite the setback, the Rossoneri all but assured themselves of a third-place finish in Serie A and therefore, direct qualification to the Champions League after closest rivals Sampdoria were held to a 1-1 draw at Palermo.

"Despite this defeat, we have achieved a very important aim," said Leonardo.

"We have guaranteed ourselves direct qualification to the Champions League and we cannot forget this."

Milan go into their final game three points clear of fourth-placed Sampdoria but having a better goal average than the Grifoni.

The Rossoneri, who have lost three of their last four games, take on Juventus at the San Siro on Sunday.

"We want to end the season in the best possible way even if we have nothing to play for," said Leonardo.

"Milan versus Juve is always a beautiful game regardless of where the teams are in the standings.

"We will go out on the pitch against Juve wanting to play our style of game which we didn't show at Genoa."





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TOTTI GIVEN FOUR-MATCH BAN


Roma captain Francesco Totti has been banned for four Coppa Italia games after being sent off in last week's final.

The Italian football league charged Totti with "unsporting conduct" after the player intentionally kicked Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli late in the game.

Inter won 1-0 to lift the Coppa Italia trophy.

Inter's Balotelli and Christian Chivu have both been hit with one-match bans after being booked in the final for dissent.





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DEL PIERO WANTS END TO HELL

Alessandro Del Piero cannot wait for Juventus' "devastating" season to be over.

Juve lost 3-2 in their final home game against Parma on Sunday.

The Turin side will end the campaign in seventh place meaning they will have to go through the qualifying rounds of the Europa League next term.

"We are the first to be disappointed," said Del Piero on the club's official website.

"Many of our mistakes are down to frustration and nerves.

"The game against Parma was just another reflection of our devastating campaign.

"A lot of things have happened to us this season, including fans' protests in our recent home games.

"We will have to show much more determination this summer and perhaps have better fortune, something which we have lacked this season.

"Hopefully with good results we will win our fans back."

Juventus have won three of their last 10 games and end the season at third-placed AC Milan on Sunday. The game at the San Siro will be Alberto Zaccheroni's last at the helm of Juventus.




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MORATTI UNHAPPY WITH MOURINHO

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti admits the media speculation linking coach Jose Mourinho with Real Madrid is coming at an awkward time as the club is trying to focus on the Serie A title race.

Moratti's team heads into the last weekend of the campaign just two points clear of Roma.

"We are only thinking of ending the tournament," said Moratti.

"We don't even know if what is said is true.

"No one wants to be distracted, neither Mourinho nor I."

Mourinho's popularity has grown in Italy since he guided the team into the Champions League Final.

The fact that he led Inter past Real Madrid's rivals Barcelona to get there has increased the speculation linking him to the Bernabeu.

Mourinho led Inter to the Coppa Italia crown last week, the first trophy in a potential treble-winning campaign.

A win on Sunday at Siena would see Inter claim their fifth straight Scudetto, the second under Mourinho.

"Mourinho is a coach that has done very well in his two years at Inter," said Moratti.

"He has a contract to remain with us."

Mourinho is under contract with Inter until June 2012.



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PATO HAPPY TO STAY AT AC MILAN

Alexandre Pato wants to remain at AC Milan despite speculation linking the Brazilian forward with a move to Chelsea this summer.

Reports in England and Italy claim the Blues are keen to lure the 20-year-old to Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.

"I want to remain at AC Milan and win everything with them," said Pato as reported in Gazzetta dello Sport.

"But I am a Rossonero player and my future will be decided by the club."

A move to the London outfit would see Pato reunited with former Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti, who joined Chelsea last summer.

"Carlo is a great person," said Pato. "He helped me grow in Italy but I am under contract until 2014 and I am happy to remain at AC Milan."

Pato has scored 12 goals in 22 league appearances for the Rossoneri this season.



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VAN BASTEN RULES OUT AC MILAN JOB

Marco van Basten has ruled himself out of contention to coach AC Milan next season because of a serious ankle injury.

Reports in Italy have tabbed the former Netherlands and Ajax boss as the number one candidate to replace Leonardo, who is set to leave the San Siro this summer after just one year at the club.

"I am still not ready," said Van Basten to Sky Sport 24. "I still have an ankle problem and I must resolve it. I can't do a big job like that of a coach as for that your mind has to be clear.

"I have read the reports about Milan and me. It's a good idea. Milan and the people of Milan are kind to me, but right now I have this problem with my ankle and it doesn't seem right to see a coach limp on the pitch.

"I have always had a good relationship with (Milan owner) Silvio Berlusconi but this is another thing entirely.

"Now I am thinking about the ankle, then everything is possible."

Van Basten believes Leonardo's assistant coach Mauro Tassotti would be the ideal candidate to take over the side should the Brazilian leave this summer.

"I am convinced that Tassotti would be a great coach," said the former Milan legend. "He is a man that has a lot of experience and knows Milan's culture and its fans well.

"He would certainly be in a position to train a team like Milan and the same goes for the other names that I have read like that of (Milan technical assistant) Filippo Galli.

"Leonardo has done very well up to now.

"The club sold many players but still managed to conquer third place."




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RANIERI 'DUCKS' NEW MOURINHO SPAT

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri chose not to "add fuel to the fire" after being mocked by Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho.

Ranieri, whose team stayed alive in the scudetto hunt on Sunday with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Cagliari, was on the receiving end of criticism from Mourinho before the game.

The Inter coach criticised Ranieri for showing his players the film "Gladiator" before the two teams clashed in the Coppa Italia final in midweek.

Inter won 4-3 on Sunday against Chievo to remain two points clear of the Romans heading into the final week in Serie A.

"I respect myself and others," said Ranieri after the game.

"Evidently, he (Mourinho) doesn't have that gift.

"He (Mourinho) is a great coach and a great motivator.

"It's better not to add any fuel to the fire."

When asked which film Ranieri planned to show his players ahead of Roma's season finale at Chievo, the coach said: "Donald Duck."

Ranieri praised his side's determination against Cagliari with two late goals from Francesco Totti giving the Romans a 23rd victory of the campaign.

"I told Totti to give the fans some entertainment and to let people talk about his goals and his play," said Ranieri.

Totti was sent off in the Coppa Italia defeat to Inter last week.

If Roma can win their last game in Verona on Sunday and Inter fall to Siena in Tuscany, then the Romans will win their first league title since 2001.

"We will battle until the end," said Ranieri.

"We face a stratospheric rival in the scudetto race but we have played an almost perfect campaign.

"I want my team to fight until the end and we will try to get a result at Chievo, a team that has been playing well."





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ANCELOTTI TESTIFIES IN MATCH-FIX CASE


Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti testified on Tuesday in Naples at the criminal trial on the Italian match-fixing scandal.

Ancelotti, whose team won the Barclays Premier League title on Sunday, was called in as a witness by the prosecution.

Ancelotti has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Juventus general director Luciano Moggi and former referee selector Paolo Bergamo are defendants.

Ancelotti was the coach of AC Milan for eight years before leaving for Chelsea last summer.

Milan were hit with an eight-point penalty during the 2006-07 campaign for their role in the scandal.




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MOURINHO PUTS CAREER DECISION ON HOLD


Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho will not make any decision about his future until after the Champions League final.

Mourinho has already led Inter to the Coppa Italia and they now face a momentous week, starting on Sunday when they can secure the Serie A title at Siena, before facing Bayern Munich in the Champions League final the following Saturday in Madrid.

Speculation has surrounded the former Chelsea manager for the majority of the season, with Real Madrid mooted as his likely destination.

Mourinho, however, refused to be drawn on any imminent decision and preferred to concentrate on six days which could see his team end up with three trophies.

He told Sky Sports News: "When I reach this situation of playing a final every few days, I have no time to think about myself.

"I have to think about my team and my club and until the night of the 22nd (Champions League final) I will not think about me.

"After that I will think about myself, I will be a little bit selfish and think about my future and what is the best for me.

"And after that I want to be clear for a month, no World Cup, no comments, no TV, no writing - nothing at all.

"I'll try to find a place in the middle of the ocean and be there for a month because I am tired."

Inter were also forced to deny they have approached Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez or any other coach as a possible replacement for Mourinho.

A club statement read: "With regards to what has been reported today by several Italian media, FC Internazionale underlines that absolutely no contact has been made with coaches of other clubs or national teams, given that the club has a contract with Jose Mourinho until 2012, and that everybody is focused exclusively on the team's important upcoming commitments."

Mourinho echoed those sentiments on www.inter.it, adding: "I have never spoken with any club and, like all the Interisti, I am only thinking about the matches with Siena and Bayern Munich."

Mourinho also questioned why Bayern have appealed against the red card which will keep Franck Ribery out of the final.

The winger was given a three-match ban following the red card he was shown in the first leg of their semi-final against Lyon for a tackle on Lisandro Lopez.

The German club failed in an appeal to UEFA and have now turned to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, who will deliver a verdict on May 18.

Mourinho pointed to Thiago Motta's dismissal against Barcelona in the Nou Camp when he raised an arm into the face of Sergio Busquets, although the Real player was criticised for overreacting.

Mourinho added: "It's strange, really strange.

"Everybody knows why he saw the red card. I don't know, what can they have?

"We had Thiago Motta with a red card in Barcelona which everybody saw. I don't say it was a mistake from the referee because sometimes the referee makes mistakes because of players.

"And because of Busquets the referee made a mistake and so Motta cannot play in the final when he did nothing to see the red card.

"We didn't appeal because we understand the rules of the game but I don't understand why Bayern did it but we concentrate on ourselves.

"We have a final in Siena and after that we have a final in Madrid."





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INTER REFUTE BENITEZ TALK

Inter Milan have denied reports they have approached Rafael Benitez or any other coach as a possible replacement for Jose Mourinho.

Italy's media claimed today Inter had joined Juventus in the race to lure the Liverpool manager to the Serie A this summer.

Mourinho has yet to confirm if he will remain in charge of Inter next season, with the Portuguese tactician a reported target of Real Madrid.

A statement from Inter read: "With regards to what has been reported today by several Italian media, FC Internazionale underlines that absolutely no contact has been made with coaches - of other clubs or national teams - given that the club has a contract with Jose Mourinho until 2012, and that everybody is focused exclusively on the team's important upcoming commitments."

(reopens) Mourinho later echoed those sentiments in a statement posted on www.inter.it which dismissed speculation that he had been in contact with another other club.

"I have never spoken with any club, and like all the Interisti I am only thinking about the matches with Siena and Bayern Munich," Mourinho stated.

Inter must win their final Serie A game of the season against Siena at the weekend to be sure of clinching the league title, before attention switches to the Champions Lea


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PALERMO CHIEF TALKS UP SAMARAS Scottish


Serie A outfit Palermo have expressed an interest in signing Celtic's Greek striker Georgios Samaras.

The Bhoys could be willing to entertain offers in the region of £2million for the 25-year-old marksman, who has scored 10 SPL goals this season.

The ex-Manchester City man has one year left on his Parkhead contract, meaning he would be a free agent next summer.

Palermo's sporting director Walter Sabatini is a big fan of Samaras, but stopped short of confirming the club's intentions.

"Palermo for Samaras? He has been at many clubs but is a good player," explained Sabatini.

"Samaras is a strong player, who has improved a lot playing in different football environments.

"He certainly has a lot of qualities."



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TOTTI MISSES OUT ON ITALY SQUAD

Italy coach Marcello Lippi remained true to his word by rewarding the players who helped the Azzurri to the World Cup finals with a place in his provisional squad for South Africa.

There is no place for Francesco Totti, despite his form for Scudetto challengers Roma and widespread speculation he would be given the chance to revive his international career after being absent since the World Cup triumph in 2006.

Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi was included as a seventh striker at the expense of Juventus defender Nicola Legrottaglie and is the only foreign-based player in the squad, but there is no place for Roma forward Luca Toni or Juventus veteran Alessandro Del Piero.

Toni had hoped that his loan move from Bayern Munich to Roma would help him secure a place in Lippi's squad.

Del Piero, meanwhile, had an indifferent season in Serie A and will not travel to the finals, bringing an end to his run of appearances at major finals for his country.

Squad: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari), Salvatore Sirigu (Palermo); Gianluca Zambrotta, Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Leonardo Bonucci (Bari), Fabio Grosso (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Mattia Cassani (Palermo), Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa); Andrea Pirlo (Milan), Gennaro Gattuso (Milan), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Antonio Candreva (Juventus), Andrea Cossu (Cagliari), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Simone Pepe (Udinese); Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Marco Borriello (Milan), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria).



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BRESCIANO EXITS PALERMO


Australia international Mark Bresciano will leave Palermo in the summer after signing a two-year deal with Saudi Arabian giants Al Nassr.

The 30-year-old midfielder's contract with the Sicilians was due to run out in the off-season and he has opted to leave on a free transfer and join former boss Walter Zenga in the Middle East.

"This is a contract worth two million euros and over a two-year term," a spokesman for Al Nassr said.

Bresciano was named in the Socceroos' 30-man provisional squad for the World Cup despite having been sidelined since February due to a back problem.

The midfielder had been linked with a move to the Barclays Premier League to join Australia team-mates Vince Grella and Brett Emerton at Blackburn and admitted earlier this week he had been seeking a move after a decade in Italy.

He joins Al Nassr after they failed to win a trophy last season, although they did qualify for the Asian Champions League.

The club responded to a below-par campaign by bringing in former Palermo boss Zenga and have pledged to reshuffle



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TOTTI REMAINS HOPEFUL OF WINNING TITLE

The scudetto, and the last Champions League qualifying place for next season, are still up for grabs heading into the final weekend of Serie A.

Inter Milan lead Roma at the top of the standings by two points while fourth-place Sampdoria are two clear of Palermo in the race for the final spot in Europe's elite club competition.

Inter must win at already-relegated Siena to be certain of capturing a fifth-consecutive title.

Should Roma prevail at Chievo and Inter draw or lose, then the Romans would win the championship for the first time since 2001 as they hold a better head-to-head record.

"I ask our fans and my team-mates not to give up hope," said Roma captain Francesco Totti.

"We head into the final weekend of the campaign and we still have a chance to win the scudetto.

"We will fight until the last second to get a win at Chievo and wait to see what happens at Siena."

Inter coach Jose Mourinho admits his players could be distracted heading into Sunday's game in Tuscany.

"We have 15 days of madness," he said.

"It's not easy to concentrate on the game at Siena when we have a Champions League final against Bayern Munich around the corner.

"I want my players to be European champions."

Third-place AC Milan host Juventus with both teams uncertain of who will guide them next season.

Alberto Zaccheroni will leave the Turin giants with his contract ending this summer while Leonardo has yet to confirm if he will remain at Milan.

Milan have already guaranteed direct qualification to the Champions League while Juve will have to go through the qualifying round of the Europa League after a dismal campaign.

Delio Rossi's Palermo must beat Atalanta on Sunday and hope Samp fail to clinch three points against Napoli.

A victory in Bergamo and a draw or a defeat by Sampdoria would see Palermo play Champions League football next season as they have a better goal difference than Samp.

Saturday's game at Lazio will mark Udinese coach Pasquale Marino's last game in charge of the Bianconeri.

Both Lazio and Udinese had high hopes going into this season but they have ended up in the lower reaches of the standings.

Parma will celebrate a successful campaign when they host rock-bottom Livorno at the Ennio Tardini stadium.

The Gialloblu were expected to struggle this term after gaining promotion to the top flight last summer but they will finish in the top half of the table.

Another success story has been Bari, who go into Sunday's match against Fiorentina knowing that coach Giampiero Ventura will be in charge next season.

Ventura led Bari into Italy's top flight last summer and then did a masterful job as they never fell into relegation danger.

Genoa have failed to secure European football following a season of ups and downs. Their last game is at Catania.

Cagliari host Bologna on Sunday with both sides having nothing to play for except pride.




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KAKA SINGS MOURINHO'S PRAISES


Real Madrid playmaker Kaka has welcomed talk of Jose Mourinho joining the club next season.

Mourinho is reportedly on the wish-list of president Florentino Perez with Madrid seemingly destined to end this season trophyless despite spending over 200 million euros last summer on new players.

Kaka, one of the big-name arrivals at the start of the season, believes Inter Milan boss Mourinho could be the coach to change their fortunes.

The Brazilian, speaking at a promotional event in Valencia, said: "Mourinho is a great coach.

"He has won things everywhere he has been.

"But whether he comes (to Madrid) is down to the club."

Kaka also stuck up for current boss Manuel Pellegrini, who could be fired in the close season despite the club still being in the title race heading into the final round of fixtures this weekend.

He added: "He has done a great job but it is the club who will decide whether he stays or goes."

Kaka has struggled to make much of an impact at the Bernabeu following his big-money move from AC Milan due to injuries.

He added: "For me it has been a very difficult season, with many physical problems.

"I have not been able to compete the way I wanted to."




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MOURINHO PUTS FOOTBALL FIRST


Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has no plans to discuss his future until after the Champions League final on May 22.

The Nerazzurri head into the final Serie A match of the season at Siena on Sunday two points clear of second-placed Roma and with a big date with Bayern Munich to look forward to in Madrid later this month too.

Mourinho has a contract at the San Siro until 2012 but continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid - particularly after further endearing himself to the Spanish club's fans by knocking Barcelona out of the Champions League.

But the Portuguese insists there will be no developments on the matter until at least May 23.

"My immediate goal at the moment is to beat Siena to secure the Scudetto and another very near goal is that we do the same against Bayern Munich to lift the European Cup," he told Spanish daily AS.

"The rest we'll see. I told my agent, Jorge Mendes, I will not discuss the matter at least until May 23 - after the Champions League final.

"The immediate objectives are what I said. But I still have things to do in football.

"Of course part of my plan is to train in Spain, and maybe also be Portugal coach some day - but that's when I'm old, maybe in 15 or 20 years.

"Is there a hurry? I have important things I do in the coming days. From May 23 we'll see what happens. For now, we must ask Mendes."

Mourinho insists he has had no contact with Madrid as yet.

"I have not," he said. "Personally, I only speak with Inter."

Asked whether one day he would like to coach Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, he replied: "Well, I said I want to be coach of Portugal in 15 or 20 years."



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LEONARDO LEAVES MILAN Manager Specials


Leonardo's coaching experiment lasted just one season at AC Milan as the Brazilian parted on amicable terms with his long-time club.

The Brazilian played for many years at the San Siro before becoming a club executive and last summer he was put in charge of the first team following coach Carlo Ancelotti's departure to Chelsea.

The 40-year-old had moderate success by leading the team into next season's Champions League with a third-place finish in Serie A but the side did not win any trophies.

They were knocked out of the Coppa Italia by Udinese earlier this year and suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Manchester United in the Champions League.

There was speculation with two months left in the campaign Leonardo wanted to leave this summer and return to Brazil but Milan refuted those rumours back then with the coach under contract for a further year.

"We have decided together that the time has come to end our relationship, in the way we have always done, by talking," said Leonardo in today's press conference.

"I never thought I would sit on the bench.

"I tried and for me this has infinitely enriched me with emotions.

"It has been an extraordinary experience.

"My life has been a journey and I can only thank Milan for it.

"There are few people that could say to have had such a journey like I have had here.

"I don't know what my future will be, I have not made any decisions.

"I have no offers and I don't know what I will do."

For a second successive summer, AC Milan will be looking for a new coach, much to the disappointment of club vice-president Adriano Galliani.

"I am evidently very saddened," he said.

"I must say that I had to work hard last year to convince Leonardo to become the coach.

"Now we arrive to this decision and naturally, it has been a joint one.

"It's not that one is leaving the other, this was done through mutual consent.

"Leonardo is 40 years old, he has been a player, an executive and a coach of Milan.

"With Milan, Leonardo has completed a journey.

"Leo began his adventure with us in 1997 and there is a 13-year rapport there."

Just last week, former AC Milan legend Marco van Basten ruled himself out of contention to guide the Rossoneri next season.

Former Cagliari manager Massimiliano Allegri and Leonardo's assistant coach Mauro Tassotti have both been linked to replace the South American.

Milan face Juventus at the San Siro in their final game of the campaign.



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