Barbara, Briffa train with Milan

Birkirkara players Etienne Barbara and Roderick Briffa reported for training at Ta' Qali yesterday afternoon but theirs was not the run-of-the-mill session with their Malta team-mates.

Barbara, 24, and the 25-year-old Briffa, who has just recovered from a lengthy lay-off following groin surgery, had the privilege of joining the AC Milan squad for training after Birkirkara, the organisers of the Rossoneri's visit to Malta, were given permission by Carlo Ancelotti to send two guest players to train with him.

For the second consecutive day, hundreds of Milan fans converged on Ta' Qali to watch the Milan players go through their paces.

The second day of Milan's winter training camp consisted of two practice sessions at the Ta' Qali training grounds. Not all the first-team players took part in the morning drill yesterday as those still recovering from injuries, including goalkeeper Dida, did specialised work-outs either on the sandy beach of Golden Bay or at the hotel.

Milan's training sessions were not meant to be open to the public but the sight of hundreds of enthusiastic fans waiting for their heroes in the Ta' Qali area on Tuesday prompted Ancelotti to give the supporters access to the training grounds.

Around 1,000 fans had the opportunity to see the Milan players and other members of their contingent from close distance last night during a reception at the Radisson Golden Sands Resort in Ghajn Tuffieha.

Milan's seven-day stay in Malta has excited maximum interest among the thousands of Milan fans here as well as other football followers.

The Milan euphoria is expected to reach fever pitch on Tuesday when Ancelotti's team take on Maltese champions Birkirkara in a friendly match at the National Stadium (kick-off 7.30 p.m.).

Early tomorrow morning, the Milan squad will jet out to Italy ahead of their match against Juventus for the Trofeo Luigi Berlusconi at San Siro, kicking off at 5 p.m. They are scheduled to return to Malta tomorrow night.

Brazilian forward Ricardo Oliveira is expected to join up with his club-mates in Malta tomorrow.

Meanwhile, it was also announced yesterday that Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso, Alberto Gilardino and Filippo Inzaghi will not fly back to Malta with the rest of the Milan contingent tomorrow night.

These four players, all members of Italy's World Cup winning squad in Germany last year, will make their way to Rome after tomorrow's match to attend an audience with Italy President Giorgio Napolitano at the Palazzo Quirinale on Monday.

Napolitano will meet the Italian sportsmen who stuck gold in all Olympic disciplines during season 2005-2006.

Milan's World Cup winning quartet are expected to return to Malta on Monday night ahead of Tuesday's friendly match at the National Stadium.