#TBT: MALPENSA WELCOMES RUI COSTA

PIRLO AND NAKATA: RUI COSTA

In the summer of 2001, both Boban and Leonardo left Milan, leaving the club in desperate need of a playmaker. Someone who could not only inspire through their quality but could also provide the assists needed for Inzaghi and Shevchenko up front. After many days spent at the Gallia Hotel in Milan, SuperPippo finally sealed his switch to the Rossoneri. It was then, during the first week of July, that the team’s pre-season preparations began. Undoubtedly, there was excitement whatever the circumstances, however, this was only enhanced due to the arrival of a certain Portuguese star. At the end of June, the Rossoneri had also agreed a deal for Andrea Pirlo, although the fans were not overly ecstatic after a number of tricky years for the boy from Brescia. Another summer addition came in the form of Hide Nakata during the last week of June, who arrived after recently winning the league with Roma.

THE DEFINING NIGHT
On Sunday 1 July 2001, no agreement had been reached with Roma. The day after, an important meeting between President Silvio Berlusconi and Adriano Galliani would take place. Without any major changes being made to the team, Shevchenko might also have considered his position at the Club. Just before midnight on the night between Monday 2 July and Tuesday 3 July, Galliano, who found himself in front of the Milanese restaurant 'La Risacca', received the OK. At that moment, phone calls went out towards the Algarve, where Manuel Rui Costa was on holiday. He was about to head to Lazio was Manuel, who kept repeating: "It's possible that AC Milan won’t sign me…" But at two in the morning, the Rossoneri and Fiorentina agreed on a fee of 85 billion lire. RuiCosta then set off and reached Malpensa late in the afternoon. Then there was a Rossoneri scarf and quite a crowd. What a coup! 

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