Madferret
5-27-06, 2:34 AM
Shevchenko confirms Milan exit
MILAN, Italy (AP) -- Andriy Shevchenko is leaving AC Milan after seven seasons, and intends to join English champion Chelsea.
Milan had offered the Ukraine striker a contract extension till 2011.
"It has nothing to do with my relationship with the coach, team and club or even money," Shevchenko said at a news conference.
Shevchenko is married to an American and said the couple wanted their son to learn English.
"We decided together for the good of the family," Shevchenko said. "I don't speak English, my wife doesn't speak Ukrainian, the only language we have in common now is Italian, but the only way to make our children understand the love we have for them is the English language."
Milan chairman Adriano Galliani said he tried to convince Shevchenko to stay "up until the minute before the press conference.
"It's a victory for the English language over the Italian language," Galliani said. "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."
Shevchenko has scored 173 goals for Milan -- the second most in club history behind Gunnar Nordahl's 221 -- since joining the club in 1999.
In 2003, Shevchenko's penalty kick won Milan the Champions League in a shootout against Juventus. A year later, he led Milan to the Italian league title and won the Golden Ball as the best player in Europe.
Shevchenko sat in the stands with Milan's most rabid "ultra" fans at the San Siro at one of his last games with Milan, in which he was out injured.
"I'm upset because I saw the eyes of the fans and so many messages were sent," he said. "It's an important decision for my life. Finding a club like Milan is impossible."
While he was contemplating leaving even before the scandal broke, Shevchenko's departure is the first big-name player to leave Italy since allegations of match-fixing, referee arrangements and illegal betting spread throughout Italian soccer this month.
Milan will most likely search for a replacement in the off-season, although it already has Alberto Gilardino and Filippo Inzaghi.
Chelsea has added Ballack and Shevy..:eek:
MILAN, Italy (AP) -- Andriy Shevchenko is leaving AC Milan after seven seasons, and intends to join English champion Chelsea.
Milan had offered the Ukraine striker a contract extension till 2011.
"It has nothing to do with my relationship with the coach, team and club or even money," Shevchenko said at a news conference.
Shevchenko is married to an American and said the couple wanted their son to learn English.
"We decided together for the good of the family," Shevchenko said. "I don't speak English, my wife doesn't speak Ukrainian, the only language we have in common now is Italian, but the only way to make our children understand the love we have for them is the English language."
Milan chairman Adriano Galliani said he tried to convince Shevchenko to stay "up until the minute before the press conference.
"It's a victory for the English language over the Italian language," Galliani said. "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."
Shevchenko has scored 173 goals for Milan -- the second most in club history behind Gunnar Nordahl's 221 -- since joining the club in 1999.
In 2003, Shevchenko's penalty kick won Milan the Champions League in a shootout against Juventus. A year later, he led Milan to the Italian league title and won the Golden Ball as the best player in Europe.
Shevchenko sat in the stands with Milan's most rabid "ultra" fans at the San Siro at one of his last games with Milan, in which he was out injured.
"I'm upset because I saw the eyes of the fans and so many messages were sent," he said. "It's an important decision for my life. Finding a club like Milan is impossible."
While he was contemplating leaving even before the scandal broke, Shevchenko's departure is the first big-name player to leave Italy since allegations of match-fixing, referee arrangements and illegal betting spread throughout Italian soccer this month.
Milan will most likely search for a replacement in the off-season, although it already has Alberto Gilardino and Filippo Inzaghi.
Chelsea has added Ballack and Shevy..:eek: