Shevchenko to leave Milan
Shevchenko to leave Milan
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Age: 17
Position: Forward
Country: England
Caps: 0
Goals: 0
Club: Arsenal
Previous clubs: Southampton, AFC Newbury
Estimated Chelsea-target value: Too late for Roman, I'm afraid. |  |
Friday, 26, May 2006 07:34
Andriy Shevchenko is to leave AC Milan with a transfer to Chelsea looking imminent, it has been revealed.
The Ukrainian striker, long-coveted by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, met with Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani today to discuss his future.
And despite Galliani telling the Gazzetta Dello Sport that "this may not be the decisive day for Sheva", the prolific hitman has now reached his decision to depart the San Siro.
"I'm leaving for family reasons," Shevchenko said at a press conference. "I thank the club for all they've given me. There's no relationship problem and there's no economic problem."
Galliani confirmed that a "painful separation"' had been agreed by both parties, with Shevchenko rejecting the offer of a lucrative five-year deal to stay with the Rossoneri.
"I tried to convince him to stay up until the minute before the press conference," he added. "It's certainly the most painful separation since I've been at Milan. Now we'll start dealing with Chelsea, and it won't be easy."
Premiership champions Chelsea are believed to have offered a substantial sum for the 29-year-old forward, who is still a major concern for next month's World Cup due to a knee injury.
Wages in the region of £130,000 a week, the same that persuaded Michael Ballack to uproot from Bayern Munich, are also said to have been tabled to land the former European footballer of the year.