Rossoneri Round-up for 23 August: Carlos Bacca insists that Leonardo and Gattuso wanted him to stay

Okay, whatever, sure.

Carlos Bacca reportedly insisted that he could have stayed at Milan, but that he and his family felt more at home in Spain, and that it had “already been decided” that his loan move would be made permanent.

At a press conference, Bacca said:

I could’ve stayed at Milan, as I had that option. Gattuso and Leonardo wanted me to stay, the Coach said he’d work with me, that he considered me a player in his squad and was against my departure.

He made me feel important, but the decision to leave was already done and dusted. I will say that Milan are doing the right things, they now have a Coach that says things to your face and they’ll get back to winning ways

Bacca’s future at Milan was already pretty much decided before Gennaro Gattuso got the coaching job at the club, so it’s not surprising to see Bacca leave. Bacca was left home for the ICC tour of the United States, which makes his claim that Leonardo wanted him to stay seem a bit fishy, as Gattuso left Bacca at home because he wasn’t in the plans for the season, even going as far as taking Nikola Kalinic and Andre Silva, both players that ended up leaving the club during this summer.

But whatever, Bacca’s happy at Villarreal, and Milan got Samu Castillejo as part of the deal.

On to the links.

AC Milan and Italian Football Links

Milan reportedly looking to poach Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis to run Milan. [AC Milan Offside]

AS Roma looking to extend the contract of Daniele De Rossi. [Chiesa di Totti]

Miralem Pjanic signs contract extension at Juventus. [Black & White & Read All Over]

World Football Links

Reports from Mexico say that the Mexican football federation (FMF) refused to pay a $10 million release clause to Leeds United for Marcelo Bielsa. Oh, and Bielsa said he didn’t want to go either. [Through It All Together]

Youth movement in women’s football in Mexico within Liga MX Femenil will payoff for years to come. [FMF State of Mind]

Aston Villa grab late equalizer to draw level with Brentford. [7500 to Holte]

Club Tijuana drew 2-2 with Santos Laguna in LigaMX. [FMF State of Mind]

The “new” Austin, Texas, MLS team unveiled a truly embarrassing crest, team name, and team colors yesterday. The owners of the Columbus Crew SC are currently in court trying to force the team to move to Austin. [Massive Report]