Transfer history: Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan)

Asked about why he never left his club, AC Milan midfielder and Italian international Andrea Pirlo (29) has said in an interview with Italian television channel Sky that he always preferred to stay despite interest from teams like Barcelona (read more here) and Chelsea:

"Yes, there has always been the possibility to move to another team, but I preferred to stay here because I think that Milan is one of the most important clubs in the world and that I have here the chance to win something every year."

Read more:
Pirlo rejects Barcelona offer
Transfer history: Xavi was close to Milan
Agent Ronaldinho doesn't exclude Barcelona return
Transfer history: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)

Video: Ronaldinho vs Zidane

Quote of the day: Van Bommel

Perhaps if they only bring eight men to Munich
then we have a chance.

Mark van Bommel, Bayern Munich player

more quotes and numbers

The Ultimate Game: Get Inside Guardiola's head

With Frank Rijkaard you couldn't get any honour by predicting Barcelona's starting line-up. Even hockey moms could. But this has dramatically changed last summer. Until this very day, nobody has been able to crack the code of Josep Guardiola's brain. Nor has anyone got inside his sleeves.

So this is your chance to prove not only your knowledge about the game of football but also your psychological insight:

PREDICT BARCELONA'S STARTING LINE-UP

This is not (as in: N-O-T) a place for discussion on team tactics or personal player preferences. You just give the system and the eleven names you think will start the game against Recreativo Huelva on Saturday.

You put them in the right position, so using the 4-3-3 (or whatever you think they will play) and putting the players from the right to the left, so the right back defender is your first name after the goalkeeper. If your line-up isn't clear, my interpretation counts.

Don't forget to add your (nick)name by clicking Name/URL under the comment box and fill it in, otherwise your after-game claim to glory will be dismissed.

You can give your starting line-up until four hours before the start of the game, in this case: until 4:00 pm barcelona time.

If you give your line-up before Guardiola announes his match list (or if at least 20 players are included in the match list or if I decide so), you get one point for the correct line-up. If you do it after that announcement, you get half a point. Who will have the most points at the end of the season, can call himself the winner.

This is the 39th time this game is organized.

Table

6.5
Zeli

5.5
ElDuroDeFCB
James

5
Barcik
Bogman
Davor
Henry
mario ch
temeldinho

4.5
semko
vj

4
B. Beltrocco
OLALEKAN
Söderström
westinho
zuka

3.5
Dan R
FCBFan
Louis

3
Cali Socis
Etsp
jerryprez
Kiki
Nikola
Ramen
xaviesta

2.5
ekar
GrandeMessi
jepoy
younes

2
Barca nike
brogie
Cristi M
granche
henrikker
Jamrock
Koyya
nozbleed
ponnyKID
sashi
SimonP

1.5
Knives Out
Valdi

1
admirer
BlaugranaIRE
DC86
Amr
Brambo
kamikaze kontiki
CharlesWood
Flippy
Barca nerd-fan
FC BARCA
Jacob
jester[HUN]
jordy
M10
Romyan
Severian
Maximus
Hung
simon
Kman
M4V3R1K
KEMPE cy
mofof
Josep
fcbee
Jonathan
peter
unreal2

0.5
deyaa
Michael
blaugrana poland
Bonton
Tobogan

The Pictures: Barcelona-Bayern Munich (part 2)

(click a picture to enlarge)

(click a picture to enlarge)