Respite for Ranieri as Milan move in for Beckham

We came to bury Caesar not to praise him but Claudio Ranieri lives to fight another day.

Just when you thought the bottom was falling out of the Old LadyâÂÂs world, she digs out the gladrags and dolls herself up to seduce the whole country once again.

She may have had to sweat a bit in the end but what a name to now have on the bed post, in name only as this Real Madrid certainly isnâÂÂt the vibrant beast of past years.

Anyway, beggars canâÂÂt be choosers and the Italian press were a swoon as they went into a 360 degree spin following the weekend debacle in Naples.

"Eat this Ranieri!" Del Boy stunner helps Juve see off Real 

Of course, Tuttosport were falling over themselves with glee, filling the first seven pages with all manner of rapturous praise.

From âÂÂJuve are the Real deal,â to âÂÂGiant Del Pieroâ and his trusty sidekick Amauri, they could not contain themselves.

However, while it was King Alex the Lionheart, Ranieri was reduced to a mere pauper in the grand scheme of things, with the paper insinuating that the âÂÂTinkermanâ had been told by the clubâÂÂs hierarchy to cut out the substitutions.

A line from their editorial ran: âÂÂRanieri is an intelligent person and he knows when to listen.âÂÂ

Could this victory be the turning point of the season? Well, the derby against Torino on Saturday should provide a clearer picture of the teamâÂÂs health.

There are still plenty of doubts surrounding RanieriâÂÂs future, especially his fragile relationship with Del Piero but at least TuesdayâÂÂs win keeps the wolf from the door for the time being.

Less fortunate were Fiorentina who arenâÂÂt used to big nights out in swanky venues so they have to be forgiven for coming over all bashful when they ran into big burly Bayern Munich.

The Champions League is but a distant memory for Milan who, it would seem, are turning into EuropeâÂÂs version of the New York Cosmos -  that âÂÂ70s retirement home for the fading star.

David Beckham will be bringing his man-bag of marquee sponsors to Milanello from January for a winter season on the catwalks of Serie A.

ItâÂÂs another marketing coup for Silvio Berlusconi who, of course, already has Ronaldinho on the payroll.

Former La Liga Galacticos set to team up at San Siro 

Vice president Adriano Galliani admitted as much this morning as he hopped on the flight to Holland where Milan are playing in the UEFA Cup.

âÂÂItâÂÂs not just about tactics, itâÂÂs about full stadiums and sponsors,â he revealed as he rubbed his hands together in delight. âÂÂNothing can beat a full stadium and ours will be full with our dream team.âÂÂ

You canâÂÂt really argue with that. And for the floating fan with an idle weekend what better way to pass it than popping over to the San Siro to see Kaka, Maldini, Becks and Ronaldinho strutting around together.

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