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ESPN staff 9y

Roma's Mattia Destro to decide on AC Milan move - Adriano Galliani

AC Milan's general manager Adriano Gallliani says Mattia Destro will decide by Thursday morning if he will leave Roma for the Rossoneri this winter.

Destro, 23, has struggled to find a regular starting berth in the Roma side this season given the form of captain Francesco Totti.

However, he is the Giallorossi's second-highest scorer behind Adem Ljajic with five goals in 16 appearances -- Totti has netted four in 15, albeit starting more frequently than Destro.

Galliani emerged cautiously optimistic from his first meeting with Destro in Rome on Wednesday morning, telling reporters:  "We can't say yet that Destro is a Milan player, but that's not to say that he won't become one. We just need a bit of calm."

The Milan chief resumed talks with Destro -- who has been given permission by Roma to talk to the Rossoneri after terms over a loan deal between the two clubs were agreed -- on Wednesday afternoon, and said: "He will give us his answer tomorrow morning. I am neither optimistic nor pessimistic.

"It's something that took him a little bit by surprise. He'll think it over for a night, and that's only fair."

Galliani was caught out by Italian radio station RDS on Tuesday, revealing his winter transfer targets and support for coach Filippo Inzaghi to an imposter professing to be Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero, while also confirming Destro was a target.

"Are you looking to move anybody on in January?" Galliani asked. "We're looking for a striker on loan and we'll probably end up taking [Mattia] Destro or [Pablo Daniel] Osvaldo -- you wouldn't give us Okaka on loan with a view to a permanent move, would you?"

ESPN FC correspondent Ben Gladwell contributed to this report.

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