Milan's January Transfer Window Report Card

Here is the list of players that arrived to Milan and those who departed (both sold & loaned)

Arrivals

DEF Adil Rami (loan) from Valencia
MID Michael Essien (free) from Chelsea
MID Keisuke Honda (free) from CSKA Moscow
MID Adel Taarabt (loan) from QPR
FWD Andrea Petagna (from loan) Sampdoria

Departures

FWD M'Baye Niang (loan) to Montpellier
MID Antonio Nocerino (loan) to West Ham
DEF Jherson Vergara (loan) to Parma
FWD Alessandro Matri (loan) to Fiorentina
MGR Massimiliano Allegri was fired

Report

With the additions of Keisuke Honda, Adil Rami, Michael Essien and Adel Taarabt for virtually nothing except the Giannino dinner tabs, Galliani made out pretty well given the low-risk, low-cost for a few players that are both eligible for Champions League play v Atletico Madrid and who can help propel Milan into yet another late season push towards European qualification. The one questionable addition was Adel Taarabt, who carries a bit of an attitude as well as a reputation known for being lazy and selfish as a player on the pitch. Factor in his comments from December of 2012 and you get another risky move. Time will tell if the move pays off for Seedorf as he tries to find a spot for Taarabt.

Milan were rumored to have been in on several players, a list that includes now Inter and Napoli players Danilo D'Ambrosio and Jorginho as well as Radja Nainggolan who made the switch from Cagliari to Roma. Other players included Parma's speedy winger Jonathan Biabiany, Manchester United's Nani and Porto's Fernando. In the end, none of the players mentioned above arrived, with some staying put and others moving to clubs higher than Milan in the table.

Given that Milan failed to add a defender, the mercato rating took a hit. Only reason why Galliani can't be completely criticized about this is because the defender market appeared stingy, with little available to help the squad this season. Another objective high on the list of many Milan fans was the goal to offload high-wage players and excess baggage like Mexes, Robinho, Muntari, Constant and Zaccardo. They did well in loaning out Matri and Nocerino. However, Galliani could have done a bit better in cutting wages. January wasn't a bad month for Galliani in terms of the mercato but it wasn't a great one either. Expect more money to spent this summer as Galliani looks to provide Seedorf with handpicked players he can build with.

Milan's January Transfer Window Rating: C or C+