Kenya's Mariga confirms talk of AC Milan
24/12/2008 17:32
Kenyan international midfielder Macdonald Mariga has admitted Italian
champions AC Milan have shown an interest in him but says there has been no
formal contact, a local daily, the Standard, reported today.
"I am aware that
they have shown interest, but they have not talked to me personally so I am
still a Parma player," he said in Nairobi yesterday.
The Parma midfielder is
on a short holiday.
On Monday, website reports indicated that AC Milan want
the Kenyan international player and are waiting to sign him during the January
transfer window.
But Mariga said he would relish an opportunity to play for
the top Italian club. "Milan are a big club and any player would dream of
playing for them. I am confident I can make it if they sign me, " he
added.
Mariga said playing for the Milan club would give him an opportunity
to feature in the lucrative European Champions League tournament.
"I have
played in the UEFA Cup, but it is not the same as the Champions League which is
bigger and more lucrative," he said at his parent's home in Race Course estate,
Nairobi.
Mariga said he still has two years left on his contract at Serie B
side Parma, which he said has made a steady climb in the league as they fight to
regain promotion.
"We are now in the third position and have been doing well
in the league. It is possible that we may gain promotion to the top league if we
maintain our performance in the second leg," he added.
Parma were relegated
last season from the Serie A and Mariga failed to get a top club before the
transfer window closed.
The Parma midfielder called for early preparations
for the national team before they begin their World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations
qualifier matches.
He said there is need to play build-up matches before the
qualifiers start in March. "We are talking about the World Cup in Nairobi and it
is important that we start early and have some meaningful build-up matches to be
ready for our opponents," he said.
Mariga said he may not be available for a
scheduled international build-up match against Egypt on January 23 in Cairo
since it will not be played on a FIFA friendly day.
The match has already
been confirmed and organizers are hoping the top players from both
countries.
Xinhua
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