Capello backs Milan move for Tresoldi and questions Italian presence in Amorim's side

What happened

Fabio Capello has backed Milan to sign Club Brugge striker Nicolò Tresoldi, telling La Gazzetta dello Sport, in comments relayed by MilanNews.it, that the 22-year-old "could do well at Milan, definitely." Capello also raised the question of Italian representation in the Milan team, saying that in the recent Genoa-Milan match Milan "started with only one Italian on the pitch," adding: "And with that, I've said it all."

Report details

That lone Italian starter was Alphadjo Cissè, who scored the opener in Milan's 2-1 win at the Ferraris under coach Ruben Amorim. According to the report, the rest of the starting line-up came from France, Spain, Belgium, Croatia, the United States and Portugal. Capello also noted that Tresoldi could choose to represent Italy, which he said "would be great too."

Tresoldi was born in Cagliari but grew up in Germany, and both Italy and Germany are trying to persuade him to commit internationally. The report states that he impressed Milan owner Gerry Cardinale with a Champions League hat-trick against Inter at San Siro in October, and that Tresoldi has said playing for the Rossoneri, the club he supported as a boy, is his dream. Cardinale is said to be considering a January move.

Any deal would not be straightforward. According to the report, Brugge will not accept less than €40m in January, and Milan may only move if they cannot find a cheaper loan option to back up Gonçalo Ramos. The sourcing is media reporting rather than official confirmation, and no agreement has been described.