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Introducing AC Milan new boy Lucas Roggia: Alexandre Pato without the frills
The Rossoneri spent the entire duration of the transfer window pursuing Carlos Tevez but they ended up signing Maxi Lopez and a Brazilian who is even unknown in his own country
05-Feb-2012 1:16:24 PM
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EXCLUSIVE
By Samuele Maggio
Just before the close of the transfer window, AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani announced the signing of Lucas Roggia. It was not a signing that most Rossoneri fans had been anticipating.
However, the 21-year-old Brazilian is managed by none other than Mino Raiola. So just who is this latest South American to have landed at San Siro and why have Milan chosen to pluck him from obscurity? Our colleague from Goal.com Brazil, Andre Baibich, explains all.
"He's a pacy striker with great technique and great talent," he enthused. "He's still very young and raw, so he's not ready for the first team, but he has the potential to become a great attacker in the future."
As Andre points out, Lucas is definitely one for the future, not yet ready for the first team. Indeed, he made just two appearances for Internacional in the Brazilian championship before Milan decided to snap him up. Consequently, there is little chance of Massimiliano Allegri throwing him straight into the Rossoneri's starting line-up.
However, there is no denying the youngster's talent - as underlined by the fact that Raiola, Zlatan Ibrahimovic's agent, has decided to take him under his wing.
"He has the kind of excellent ball control when moving at speed that makes him a truly modern forward," he said of his latest protege. "On the other hand, however, he's still a bit inaccurate in front of goal. He loves to hold on to the ball, which makes him a bit unpopular with team-mates at times."
A Brazilian forward, quick and small, schooled in Internacional, with rebellious curls - the comparisons with current Milan forward Alexandre Pato draw themselves. However, Andre is quick to point out that Lucas is not quite at the same level as his compatriot just yet.
"We're saying that they have similar characteristics and he could look a bit like Pato, but he still has to improve a lot and he's still not well known, even in Brazil," he explains.
So what of his chances of emulating Pato's success at Milan? Andre is not expecting Lucas to make an instant impact at San Siro.
"At the moment he is a player from a small club, but one that has the qualities to become a great player for a great team," he reasoned.
"Seeing as he had yet to find himself in the Brasileiro, it's difficult to believe that he could establish himself in Serie A yet.
"He certainly has talent but it takes patience."
By Samuele Maggio
Just before the close of the transfer window, AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani announced the signing of Lucas Roggia. It was not a signing that most Rossoneri fans had been anticipating.
However, the 21-year-old Brazilian is managed by none other than Mino Raiola. So just who is this latest South American to have landed at San Siro and why have Milan chosen to pluck him from obscurity? Our colleague from Goal.com Brazil, Andre Baibich, explains all.
"He's a pacy striker with great technique and great talent," he enthused. "He's still very young and raw, so he's not ready for the first team, but he has the potential to become a great attacker in the future."
As Andre points out, Lucas is definitely one for the future, not yet ready for the first team. Indeed, he made just two appearances for Internacional in the Brazilian championship before Milan decided to snap him up. Consequently, there is little chance of Massimiliano Allegri throwing him straight into the Rossoneri's starting line-up.
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LUCAS ROGGIA
FORWARD | AC MILAN |
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However, there is no denying the youngster's talent - as underlined by the fact that Raiola, Zlatan Ibrahimovic's agent, has decided to take him under his wing.
"He has the kind of excellent ball control when moving at speed that makes him a truly modern forward," he said of his latest protege. "On the other hand, however, he's still a bit inaccurate in front of goal. He loves to hold on to the ball, which makes him a bit unpopular with team-mates at times."
A Brazilian forward, quick and small, schooled in Internacional, with rebellious curls - the comparisons with current Milan forward Alexandre Pato draw themselves. However, Andre is quick to point out that Lucas is not quite at the same level as his compatriot just yet.
"We're saying that they have similar characteristics and he could look a bit like Pato, but he still has to improve a lot and he's still not well known, even in Brazil," he explains.
He has the kind of excellent ball control when moving at speed that makes him a truly modern forward - Mino Raiola
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So what of his chances of emulating Pato's success at Milan? Andre is not expecting Lucas to make an instant impact at San Siro.
"At the moment he is a player from a small club, but one that has the qualities to become a great player for a great team," he reasoned.
"Seeing as he had yet to find himself in the Brasileiro, it's difficult to believe that he could establish himself in Serie A yet.
"He certainly has talent but it takes patience."
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