To quote Bob Dylan, âÂÂmoney doesnâÂÂt talk, it swears.âÂÂ
No doubt the air has been turned blue around the AC Milan headquarters in the last few days as the runaway train that is Kaka to Manchester City gathers speed.
Silvio BerlusconipâÂÂs right-hand man, Adriano Galliani, who usually canâÂÂt pass a microphone without offering a sound-bite, has been sneaking in and out of the backdoor at the clubâÂÂs base.
Galliani: "Goodbye people carrier, hello private chopper..."
ItâÂÂs not as if the Rossoneri faithful are protesting en-mass about all that filthy lucre which should be winging its way into the clubâÂÂs coffers very soon.
In fact, walking past the Milan HQ in the city centre on Friday morning, the only sign of discord was provided by a handful of workshy Ultras, who had lamely spray-painted the pavement with âÂÂHands off Kaka.âÂÂ
So letâÂÂs, for arguments sake, accept that this is the beginning of the end for the current Milan side, and imagine just what they could do with that ã100m plus windfall.
Carlo Ancelotti would have to have to go first of all, obviously, and in his place would arrive bright young thing Alessandro Costacurta, who at 42 has been cutting his managerial teeth at Serie B side Mantova.
The Serie Aaaaargh! First XI of 2008 goalkeeper Marco Amelia would take over between the posts. At 26, the Palermo man is a mere babe in the woods in goalkeeping years.
Marco Amelia: Milan's next No.1?
The club have already bought a right-back in Felipe Mattioni. The 20-year-old Brazilian arrived in the middle of the Kaka maelstrom, on loan from Gremio, and the deal will become permanent in the summer. The âÂÂnew Cafuâ comparisons are expected any day now.
The centre of defence would no longer have a combined age of 76, such as it did last weekend when Paolo Maldini and Giuseppe Favalli lined-up against AS Roma.
Instead, 24-year-old Thiago Silva would help provide the backbone if not the class but, then again, how can any team replace Maldini or Nesta.
Things looking are a bit shaky at left-back where the only candidate currently on the books is Luca Antonini who is knocking on a bit at 26, but he just sneaks in.
While there is plenty of fresh talent in midfield, with Yoann Gourcuff the ideal replacement for Kaka, Mathieu Flamini taking over the spadework of Rino Gattuso and Mathias Cardacio directing operations from the centre.
The Uruguayan has been kicking his heels on the bench for the last season and a half and, at 21, only made his competitive debut in December despite AncelottiâÂÂs protestations that he can fill the Andrea Pirlo role.
Gourcuff: One for the (very near) future
However, the real find will be Rodney Strasser â lo and behold an actual youth team product.
The 18-year-old from Sierra Leone is a cross between Patrick Vieira and Michael Essen, and made his first-team debut in the Italian Cup at the end of last year.
Alexandre Pato, 19 and Marco Borriello, 26, provide the perfect partnership in attack, with 19-year-old Alberto Paloschi back from a loan spell at Parma to add back-up.
And, of course, how could we forget Jermaine Pennant? Well maybe we can now.
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FourFourTwo.com: More to read...
News: Milan considering colossol Kaka offerNews: Losing Kaka might not be disaster for Milan
News: Milan meet City to hear Kaka proposalsNews: Kaka to ponder move to Man City
Blog: Milan should cash in as City come calling for KakaKaka interview
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