Allegri: Tevez not on Milan radar, for now

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said Argentine striker Carlos Tevez is not a priority for the Serie A leaders.

The Italian giants have been linked with a move for the want-away Manchester City star, but Allegri refused to be drawn on the issue when questioned in Dubai.

“I don’t know. It’s still too early to say, but Milan already has other stronger strikers and so we are not looking at the moment.”

Allegri and his team are spending part of their winter break in the Middle East, but it’s no holiday for either side as Milan prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Dubai Football Challenge.

The Italians will be going for their third straight win in the UAE, having beaten German side Hamburg and Al-Ahli in the previous two editions of the tournament.

Former Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti will take charge of the Ligue 1 leaders for the first time on Wednesday.

Several of his former players, including Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf, will play in the match.

“Ancelotti is a guarantee for any team as a coach,” Seedorf said.

“He has proven his worth over the years and I think he will do well. I hope they will receive him well because it’s difficult to enter a situation where there’s some polemics about a coach who was doing well and was then changed.”

“I hope he doesn’t suffer like that, but I think he will be great.”

Allegri said there was no ill feeling between himself and Ancelotti .

“I am the current Milan coach and Carlo Ancelotti was one of my predecessors. There is no confrontation between us. This game is a match between two teams that will prepare us for the rest of the season.”

Both sides top their respective leagues and will hope the friendly gives them an added advantage when the second half of the season resumes:

“It’s very important for us to be here to complete our preparation,” Allegri said.

” Last year we were also here and it’s always a pleasure to be in Dubai. We are preparing for the rest of the season, so this is a great place to be.”

“We are at the top of the table but we have a difficult mission.”

“There are still 19 games to play and there are some other teams coming up strongly like Juventus, Lazio and even Inter. I expect a big battle.”