Friday May 26 2006
AC Milan have accepted Andriy Shevchenko's request to leave the club but have warned Chelsea they must break the bank to land the 29-year-old Ukrainian international forward.
Shevchenko appeared alongside AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani at the club's offices in Via Turati in downtown Milan at a hastily arranged press conference to announce his decision on Friday afternoon.
Shevchenko said: "I am leaving for family reasons - I want to thank the club for everything it's given to me. There's no problems regarding my relationship with anyone in the club or any financial problems."
Galliani, in day to day control of the club owned by former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, said: "It's a victory of the English language over the Italian language."
That was apparently a reference to Shevchenko's American wife who reportedly wants a move to England.
"I've tried to convince him to stay - even one minute prior to the press conference," continued Galliani.
"This is certainly the most painful divorce since I have been at Milan and from now on we will begin negotiations with Chelsea and it will not be easy.
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a team of 300m +ballack and now probably the beat striker(alongside henry) in recent years and maybe carlos(?)......how can we possibly stop them?
salary or transfer cap anyone?
