<
>

Alessio Cerci: AC Milan my priority till 2016; transfer rumours are fantasy

AC Milan forward Alessio Cerci insists he has no other plans but to see out the final year of his contract with the Rossoneri.

Cerci, 27, is on loan at Milan from Atletico Madrid until 2016, but reports claimed that Milan's general manager Adriano Galliani had been trying to convince the Spanish club to take him back this summer.

The former Torino forward has failed to make an impact at Milan since arriving in the winter after failing to hold down a regular starting role in his first six months in Spain.

Cerci made 16 appearances in Serie A, of which only seven were from the start.

Galliani was in Madrid this week for talks with Atletico, but Cerci says that suggestions he was trying to cancel the loan deal were inaccurate.

"I've read fantasy articles about the transfer market and I've heard whispers which are not true... which is often the case when people talk about me without knowing the reality," Cerci tweeted. "I have a contract with Milan until June 30 2016 and Milan are my priority."

The 27-year-old had recently been linked with a return to Torino next season, but their coach Giampiero Ventura does not think a return is likely. He instead criticised Cerci for making a mistake by joining Atletico in the first place.

"Anybody who knows anything about football knows full well that the only club Cerci should never have joined is Atletico Madrid, and Atletico were the only club who should never have tried to get him," Ventura told Tuttosport.

"Heaven knows why he went there. If Cerci had gone to Barcelona, he would have done great things. He's got extraordinary talent, if only you find his ignition."

Cerci netted 13 goals for the Granata in 2013-14 to help them earn a place in the Europa League before he moved to Atletico for a reported €15 million.