Soccer:AC Milan will try to sign forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Barcelona but chief executive Adriano Galliani admits the chances of landing the Swede are remote, given the cost involved.
Ibrahimovic, a former talisman for Milan's dominant rivals Inter Milan, scored 16 goals in 29 in his first season at Barcelona but his position is in doubt after the arrival of World Cup winner David Villa from valencia and he was an unused substitute in Saturday's Spanish Super Cup second leg.
"We will try but it's difficult," Galliani told today's Gazzetta dello Sport.
Barca boss Pep Guardiola refused to be drawn on the striker's future before the game.
The Rossoneri, who have a habit of signing ex-Inter players, look in need of extra firepower after a third-place finish last term and a goal-shy pre-season under new coach Massimiliano Allegri.
A drab 0-0 friendly draw with Juventus on Sunday followed by a penalties defeat was not the best way to prepare for next weekend's Serie A start at home to promoted Lecce.
Milan have drastically reined in transfer spending during the global economic crisis and Ibrahimovic's agent believes a deal could be a non-starter before the transfer window closes on August 31st.
"Guardiola does not want to sell Zlatan, a move to Milan seems impossible to me. Ibra is not a loan player," his agent Mino Raiola told Gazzetta.
Apart from big-spending Juve and Genoa, the transfer window has been quiet in Italy although it is believed treble winners Inter have bid for Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt.