Milan reject Chelsea's world record bid for Shevchenko
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-24 09:08

English champions Chelsea are reported to have offered AC Milan a world record 57 million pounds for Ukraine star Andriy Shevchenko - and were told it wasn't enough.

AC Milan's forward Andriy Shevchenko celebrates after scoring against Fiorentina. Chelsea are reported to have offered AC Milan a world record 57 million pounds for Shevchenko -- and were told it wasn't enough.[AFP]

Roman Abramovich's club offered Milan 48.9 million pounds plus want-away Argentina striker Hernan Crespo in a determined effort to bring the 29-year-old Ukrainian to Stamford Bridge, the Daily Mirror reported Thursday.

With Crespo valued at around 8 million pounds, it would have smashed the current record of 46 million pounds Real Madrid paid Juventus for France star Zinedine Zidane four years ago.

Chelsea were understood to be willing to pay Shevchenko 150,000 pounds a week on a four-year deal.

Abramovich has long coveted Shevchenko and the European Player of the Year admits he is a personal friend of the Russian billionaire.

But if Abramovich believed his stunning offer would tempt Milan, he was shown to be wrong as the Italian giants rebuffed the bid.

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said: "Chelsea have asked us for Shevchenko but we have told them 'No'.

"Sheva is not for sale. He is unsellable."

Chelsea have been engaged in a game of bluff and counter-bluff with Milan for the past month over Crespo and Georgian full-back Kakha Kaladze.

Stamford Bridge chief executive Peter Kenyon had vowed that he would not be held to ransom by Milan over either player. The Italians say that they want to take Crespo back on loan for another season but are demanding that Chelsea contribute 15,000 pounds a week towards his wages.

And when the Serie A side refused to lower their 8 million pound valuation of Kaladze after weeks of wrangling, Chelsea instead switched to Athletic Bilboa's Asier Del Horno, who joined them on a three-year deal.

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