Roberto Donadoni has claimed he isnâÂÂt concerned about the rumours that Marcello Lippi will be back in charge of Italy after Euro 2008.
Well he shouldnâÂÂt be, because according to someone closely linked to AC Milan, the World Cup-winning boss has already signed a two-year deal to replace Carlo Ancelotti at the end of the current season.
Will Lippi (r) replace Azzurri-bound Ancelotti (l) at Milan?
The source claimed that Donadoni is off whatever happens in the summer and heâÂÂs more than happy to let his rosy-cheeked former team-mate Ancelotti face the press for the World Cup qualifying campaign.
Lippi has already drawn up a shopping list of players including Barcelona full-back Gianluca Zambrotta, who has given his word that he will come back to Italy to play under his old Juventus mentor.
The soon-to-be-60-year-old coach will also be sniffing around the Old Lady for Vincenzo Iaquinta and has already asked Silvio Berlusconi to buy Porto winger Ricardo Quaresma - but knows when he is onto a good thing and wonâÂÂt push his new employer too much for a transfer hand-out.
Plenty of noses have been pushed out of joint at Milanello â not least the elegant hooters of Filippo Inzaghi and Clarence Seedorf, who Lippi has demanded be moved on or be exiled to the stands.
That remains to be seen of course, as according to Deep Throat, Paolo Maldini will be knocking around for another year to act as peacemaker in the dressing room and to smooth the battered egos of the more experienced players.
However, Lippi has the backing of his Berlin heroes Andrea Pirlo and Rino Gattuso â and more importantly Ricky Kakà, whom Milan are bending over backwards to please to ensure he doesnâÂÂt jump ship for Spain if the Rossoneri fail to finish fourth in the league and miss out on the Champions League.
