Borini discusses his move to AC Milan & Kirchhoff trains at camp for players without a club

Fabio Borini on his attributes

Fabio Borini has been in action for AC Milan this afternoon in a summer pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund. I Rossoneri were beaten by three-goals-to-one by their Bundesliga opponents.

Borini - presently on loan at the Serie A giant from Sunderland - lined up on the left hand side of the Milan attack in a 4-3-3 formation, making his second appearance in a red-and-black shirt since his signing at the end of last month. The former Liverpool man played 90 minutes.

The 26-year-old previewed the encounter by recounting his experiences in England as well as his strengths as a player on the Italian club’s multi-media channel, MilanTV.

Borini looked a little uncomfortable as he was asked a series of inane questions, the pick of which include an estimation of his attributes and his thoughts on that move to Italy.

On signing for Milan:

I have been many years in England but I'm Italian. AC Milan for an Italian is like Real Madrid or Barcelona for a Spaniard and Liverpool and United for an Englishman. I played at Liverpool in England, when Milan called I could not say ‘no’. It’s a great motivation and encouragement to return to Italy in a club like Milan. Being part of this new project is a pride.

And on his style of play in England, Borini suggests his game involves being direct and is based on hard work:

At Sunderland I could only play directly without any messing about. I can learn from talented players but few will work more than me, this was my main strength.

Borini is in China at present with Milan who are competing in this year’s International Champions Cup.

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Kirchhoff linked with Eintracht Frankfurt

German newspaper Bild ran a feature over the weekend about a group of footballers presently without a club who have been training in a camp based just outside of a small Bavarian village this summer.

The facility has been organised by German football agency Rogon for players on its books without a contract. One of them is ex-Sunderland man Jan Kirchhoff.

The defender who was often used as a holding midfielder whilst at the Stadium of Light was released from the Black Cats at the end of last season after a frustrating campaign marred by lengthy injury lay-offs.

Kirchhoff is training alongside the likes of Dennis Aogo and Maxim Choupo-Moting, both released by Shalke and Roberto Hilbert, most recently of Leverkusen.

The camp is organised as any professional club would be with fitness coaches, football trainers, a physiotherapist and a cook.

Recent reports in Germany have suggested Kirchhoff could return to the city of his birth and sign for Eintracht Frankfurt.

Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Signed for £750,000 in January 2016, Kirchhoff was an instant hit on Wearside with his classy displays in Sam Allardyce’s survival squad.

But the 26-year-old only featured 7 times in the Premier league last season with repeated hamstring injuries before being ruled out from December onwards with damaged knee cartilage.

When Kirchhoff departed Sunderland there were suggestions the ex-Bayern Munich man had received offers to stay in the Premier League but to date precious little has been reported. He may not even yet be recovered from that lengthy injury which would explain would-be suitor’s reluctance to make a move for him.

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Sunderland talent camp in Spain

Sunderland’s annual football camp for youngsters from across Europe began on Monday. Some 400 kids from Spain, Norway, the UK, Poland, France, Russia, Portugal and Italy have gathered for a fortnight of football training just north of Benidorm.

The two-week camp is operated by the SAFC Foundation and offers English language courses combined with football training run by Sunderland coaches. This is the seventh such summer initiative run by the Black Cats for children aged 6 to 18.

Three scholarships are offered to the best students with the opportunity to enter a trial into the Sunderland academy.