GUNNERS EYE UNHAPPY ABBIATI
The 23-year-old was a regular in Alberto Zaccheroni's side last season but has been relegated to the bench by new boss Cesare Maldini in favour of Sebastiano Rossi.
Abbiati was third-choice keeper in Italy's Euro 2000 squad and is unhappy at now spending so much time on the bench, hinting that he may leave in the summer.
"My exclusion didn't make me angry, but disappointed of course," said Abbiati. "They forced me to accept their choice, in June they will accept mine."
Arsenal have been searching for a new keeper for some time, and have been linked with Bordeaux's Ulrich Rame and Feyenoord's Jerzy Dudek.
Rame said that he rejected a move to Highbury because he did not want to be second-choice to David Seaman, and Arsene Wenger would have to convince Abbiati that he would get regular action to persuade him to move to North London.
With interest also coming from Barcelona, Maldini has moved to hold on to his keeper, saying that Rossi will be retiring soon and Abbiati will be the long-term number one.
"Sebastiano has great experience, we trust in him," said Maldini. "But I just want to say that Abbiati is Milan's goalkeeper, he is the future.
"He was injured and had to leave the place to Rossi, who is now doing well. Christian has to be patient, he's 24, Rossi is 37, the future is with him.
"After all, all big clubs have three or four good keepers, because there are many matches to be played. Christian is Milan's goalkeeper and he'll stay so for many years."
Abbiati, however, has fired a warning shot at Milan saying that he will leave the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium at the end of the season if he does not return to the team.
"I will wait until the end of the season," added Abbiati. "But if I have not played by then, it will be clear that I will have to change my plans for the future."
