Milan plots Guardiola NYC offensive

This isn't the first time Silvio Berlusconi has attempted to lure Pep Guardiola to take the Milan hotseat, but the team's stuttering start to the season – the 'Rossoneri' lie 11th in the Serie A table – has led him to redouble his efforts to land the former Barça coach. Milan number two Adriano Galliani has revealed plans to fly to New York – he claims he is visiting his daughter, who lives in the 'Big Apple' – at precisely the same time Guardiola's agent, Josep María Orobitg, is in Manhattan.

Orobitg and Guardiola had been scheduled to meet in December, with the coach briefing his agent to turn down all advances in the meantime. He was to take down the details of any offers and bring them to the table in December, when the former Barça boss would begin to make a decision on his future after his sabbatical year. But for some reason, the meeting seems to have been pushed forward.

Milan has sounded out Orobitg on numerous occasions since Guardiola announced he would be leaving Barça, and the Italian media are reporting that Berlusconi would be willing to offer him a four-year package worth €6 million a season after tax.

Guardiola is determined not to rush back to coaching this year, but Milan is equally desperate to get the Catalan tactician on board as soon as possible, whether for what remains of this campaign or in the shape of a pre-contract agreement for next season.