A NARROW ESCAPE

The Guardian on Milan's Alessandro Nesta a United target before Rio signed.

The only minor headache (for Milan) is the wayward form of central defender Alessandro "Feather my" Nesta - caught dreaming again for Chievo's opener lastSaturday. Having moved north on the final day of the transfer market, the
former Lazio captain's form for both club and country has since crumbled.

For the defender once dubbed "the new Baresi" and the man at the centre of
Italy's post-Maldini hopes, these are worrying times. Milan blame the
intense series of games he's faced since September, and insist he'll soon be
back on top of his game. For the Italian press, meanwhile, he's simply
"unrecognisable".

Roma fans would argue that this is nothing new. As they recall all too
happily, back in the Rome derby last March, Alessandro the Great failed to
even show up for the second half after playing a decisive role in Lazio's
four-goal first-half collapse.