Former Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic is hoping to put his club loyalty card credentials on the line tonight when Milan travel to Bologna looking to make amends for their opening day defeat.
With the bulk of Serie A action tomorrow, including Juve’s away trip to Udinese, Massimiliano Allegri’s side’s second game of the season presents a double challenge.
They must show that last week’s shocking 1-0 defeat at home to promoted Sampdoria was a blip and that they are also making progress in plugging the gaping holes left by some key departures.
Prior to last week’s defeat Milan’s fans were barely digesting the club’s decision to sell centre-back Thiago Silva and striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to PSG. But since then another key striker, Antonio Cassano, has decided to defect – to arch rivals Inter.
Although Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani failed in his bid to lure Brazilian playmaker Kaka back to the club from Real Madrid, Milan have tried to make amends.
French teenager Mbaye Niang has arrived, as a future prospect, from Caen but perhaps the biggest story was the arrival of Bojan on a one-year loan deal from Serie A side Roma.
Having spent four “dream” years at Barcelona, Bojan was sold to Roma last season but it has been an unhappy experience. The 22-year-old is even hoping his move becomes more permanent.
“I didn’t play much for Roma and arriving here at Milan is a step forward for me,” said Bojan, who scored seven goals in 33 appearances for Roma last season.
“It wasn’t an easy year in Rome, but I learned a lot. I want to do well and help the team. I want to stay after the loan period.”
This week, Milan completed the signing of tough-tackling Dutch midfielder Nigel De Jong from Manchester City although it remains to be seen whether the 27-year-old is given a run out at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.
It has been a busy week for transfers all round, but it got particularly nasty between Fiorentina and Juventus.
Fiorentina, who travel to Napoli tomorrow hoping to build on their 2-1 win last week at home to Udinese, were all set to boast one of the coups of the summer with the signing of Dimitar Berbatov.
But after paying the Manchester United striker’s air fare to Florence, the Bulgarian failed to arrive and Fiorentina suggested late interest in his services from Juventus was the reason.
Juventus defended their late bid and with Berbatov joining Fulham, the ‘Old Lady’ of Turin turned its attention to Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner.
Juventus began the defence of their first title since 2003 with a 2-0 defeat of Parma in Turin last week, and while Bendtner is regarded as being a notch below Berbatov, club officials have faith in the big Dane.
“Niklas Bendtner is not the big name player we’d hoped to sign, but we’ve decided to take a chance,” said club president Giu-seppe Marotta.
“He’s potentially a great player in the making.”
Tomorrow’s big game is Inter’s clash against Roma.
Inter put their early season form on display with a 3-0 away rout of league new boys Pescara while Roma were lucky to escape with a share of the points in a 2-2 home draw against Catania.
Fixtures
Serie A
Playing Today
Torino Vs Pescara 18.00
Bologna Vs Milan 20.45
Tomorrow – 20.45
Cagliari Vs Atalanta
Catania Vs Genoa
Inter Vs Roma
Lazio Vs Palermo
Napoli Vs Fiorentina
Parma Vs Chievo
Sampdoria Vs Siena
Udinese Vs Juventus 18.00
Serie B
Playing Today – 20.45
Ascoli Vs Bari
Brescia Vs Juve Stabia
Cittadella Vs Grosseto
Lanciano Vs Varese
Novara Vs Empoli 18.00
Reggina Vs Pro Vercelli
Sassuolo Vs Crotone
Ternana Vs Modena
Verona Vs Spezia
Vicenza Vs Cesena
Monday
Livorno Vs Padova 20.45