Official: Zambrotta to Milan

He cost 8.5 million euros and he will earn 4 million euros a year!

Great signing, will you play him on the right or left ?

Sgoater1 wrote:Great signing, will you play him on the right or left ?

Good question. In Italy's game he played on both sides (the game yesterday that is). I would think that we would play him mostly on the right because with Cafu gone and Oddo's poor form we'll need him there more. Janku and Favalli (who despite what many say is good) are doing well on the left side.

truly disappointed at Barcelona.
I preferred Belletti at RB.

At 31 one, lets hope he does the business.

Another very satisfying recruit.

MILAN - Official! Gianluca Zambrotta is a new Milan player.

Born in Como on 19 February 1977, the new Milan full back started out playing in his home city. Initially employed as a winger, Zambrotta made his professional debut at age 17, with Calcio Como, where he played for three seasons, from 1994 to 1997, in Serie B and C1.

His Serie A debut came on 31 August 1997, after his passage to Bari, against Parma. His stay in Apulia lasted for two seasons, durig which Zambrotta made 59 appearences and scored 6 goals.

Then, in '99, his passage to Juventus: there Juventus experimented playing him as a left back and it turned out to be a winning bet, as Zambrotta grew to become one of the best players in the world in that role. With the Bianconeri he played for seven seasons.
In the summer of 2006, after the chaos of 'Calciopoli', he leaves Italy and joins Frank Rijkaard's Barcelona. The Blaugrana's coach employed him mostly as a right back. With the Spaniards Zambrotta played a total of 58 games, scoring 3 goals.

A regular starter for the Azzurri, with Italy Zambrotta has made 71 appearences, scoring twice. The debut came on 10 February 1999 in Italy-Norway 0-0. Zambrotta participated to the World Cups of 2002 and 2006, and the Euros of 2000 and 2004.

In 2006 he was crowned world champion in Germany. With him, 5 Milanisti: Gattuso, Pirlo, Inzaghi, Nesta and Gilardino, plus Oddo who would become a Rossonero after a few months. His contribution to the World Cup was fundamental, and Fifa elected him as one of the best player in the tournament. He also scored a goal in the quarter final against Ukraine (3-0), and provided the assist for the third goal by Toni. Also memorable was his shot that hit the crossbar in the semifinal against Germany. Aside from the victory, he also received a special honor: the honorary presidency of Como Calcio.

In his personal trophy cabinet, he can boast: with Juve, the Scudettos of 2002 and 2003 (as well as those of 2005, revoked by the sports justice, and of 2006, later assigned to Inter), and two Italian Supercups (2002 and 2003): with the Bianconeri he also lost the Champions League in Manchester against Milan in 2003; with Barcelona he won one Spanish Supercup. And, obviously, the World Cup, with the national team.

At the moment, Gianluca Zambrotta is preparing to face the European adventure in Austria and Switzerland with the Azzurri shirt.

cheap as chips

Goodbye and good luck Gianluca. You were my dream transfer to Barcelona, although it didn't work out as I expected. Maybe we should have played you on the left.
The price and the baldie claimed that Barca was not a cheap place to shop
Still maybe he's just the part of this mega offer for Kaka

Another piece of shrewd negotiating by Milan. Hopefully returning to Italy will coincide with Zambrotta getting back to his best because he really is a very good player and was unfortunate to have moved to Barza just as things were going south.

Jaime wrote:Another piece of shrewd negotiating by Milan. Hopefully returning to Italy will coincide with Zambrotta getting back to his best because he really is a very good player and was unfortunate to have moved to Barza just as things were going south.

Obviously he would've become a crack in Madriz

I never understood why he didnt work out at Barca , very good player.

The price

How can he lose half his value in 2 seasons, despite (as we clearly see on here) still having a great reputation in Italy. I hope we have some hefty win/performance bonuses in there.

Anyway, good luck to him. Never really worked out...apart from occasional moments/games of class it was mostly an average 2 years.

I expected this. Roma made a bid for him when Juventus got relegated, the Northern snob refused and decided he would rather go to Barca.

DS wrote:I never understood why he didnt work out at Barca , very good player.

The main reason IMO is that he was always played on the right. I think Zambrotta is at his most effective as an LB.

But even as a RB, he performed way below par for Barca. Just can't understand it... I guess Italian defenders just don't get the spanish game!

bluenine wrote:I guess Italian defenders just don't get the spanish game!

It's because they are the only ones defending, as opposed to the whole team in Italy.

I wish him all the best. He's a fantastic pro and great player. Should do very well for Milan.

He didn't have the best of times at Barca, but he never complained and always gave his all. Can't ask for muchmore really.