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April 20, 2010

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Milan's Galliani hints Leonardo may leave

AC Milan coach Leonardo could leave the club because of family issues but chief executive Adriano Galliani is confident the former Brazil international will stay.

Milan lost 1-2 at Sampdoria to an injury-time goal on Sunday to all but end its Serie A title hopes while media has been rife with rumors that the rookie coach is unhappy with club president Silvio Berlusconi for his thrifty transfer spending.

"There are no problems over buys, it's just that he has three kids in Rio and sooner or later he will go back to Brazil," Galliani told Sky television. "But I think I can convince him to stay in Italy."

Leonardo, who had no previous coaching experience but has charmed the football world with his eloquence in five languages, took over after Carlo Ancelotti left for Chelsea at the end of last season.

The 40-year-old was seen by Milan fans as a cheap gamble and its big defeat by Manchester United in the Champions League last 16 last month prompted speculation about his future as the Rossoneri keep quiet about the details of his contract.

Galliani also denied reports that Italy coach and former Juventus and Inter Milan boss Marcello Lippi would become Milan's sporting director after the World Cup.

Sixth-placed Napoli, five behind Sampdoria, made sure it still had a shot at fourth thanks to Ezequiel Lavezzi's double in a 2-1 victory at Bari.

Also, Mirko Vucinic was the toast of half the Eternal City on Sunday after his double sent AS Roma back to the top of Serie A with a 2-1 comeback win over rival Lazio.

Roma moved a point above Inter Milan with four games left and is seven above Milan.

Tommaso Rocchi calmly put Lazio ahead on 14 minutes after a well-timed run and the strugglers, still not safe from relegation, should have been further in front when Julio Sergio saved Sergio Floccari's penalty just after the break.

Lazio wing back Aleksandar Kolarov was felled for the soft penalty but he was the one conceding a debatable spot-kick shortly afterwards, allowing Vucinic to fire in the equalizer.

The Montenegro forward then sent the Roma fans into ecstasy when he blasted home a freekick midway through the second half.


 

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