Galliani wants to bring Drogba to AC Milan

Published Nov. 15, 2011 2:10 p.m. ET

foxsports

With AC Milan short up front, vice president Adriano Galliani could make a play for Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.

Milan will be without striker Antonio Cassano for up to six months following heart surgery, and former Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti said the Serie A club should make a bid for Drogba and teammate Nicolas Anelka.

''It's not a given that someone will come in January, and if they do it will be on loan, because I promised Cassano we will keep his place for him,'' Galliani said in an interview in Tuesday's Gazzetta dello Sport. ''Anelka is an important player but I have been in love with Drogba since he was playing with Marseille.''

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has also long been linked with a move to Milan - the club he supported growing up.

Galliani admitted recently it would be a ''dream'' to sign Balotelli, whose stock rose Friday after a stunning goal and a stellar performance in Italy's 2-0 win in Poland.

However, the Milan president does not think Balotelli will return to Italy any time soon.

''I think it would be impossible for any Italian club to sign Balotelli at the moment,'' Galliani said.

Balotelli spent three controversial years at Inter Milan. He came under heavy criticism during his time there when he donned a Milan shirt on a television show.