Shevchenko to return to Milan?

[D-Kin]

Even for Shevchenko (who, it must be said, is 30 and clearly past his prime) they were never going to change their system.

He would have earned a lot had he stayed with Milan but there's no question he's earning much more now he's at Chelsea.

[Trim]

The vice-President of the Rossoneri admitted that if Chelsea would part ways with the Ukrainian forward, Milan would welcome him back with arms wide open.

Adriano Galliani spoke about the remote possibility that Andriy Shevchenko leaves London this summer which would trigger the Rossoneri to make a move for their former player.

"Our desire was that of not selling him, but we all know that he wanted to go to Chelsea.

"However, right now he's a Blues player, therefore if they will want to sell him we would be ready. Still, I think it's a remote hypothesis."

With regards to the contracts of Nesta and Ancelotti, which expire in 2008, Galliani has no rush.

"Don't worry about Nesta, now the players will think about the final and then he will extend.

"But let's be careful, if someone has his contract expiring in June 2008, like Nesta and Ancelotti, let's not create a rushed situation. We can extend calmly. Both will stay."

Goal.com - AC Milan - Milan Ready To Take Shevchenko Back - Galliani

[Diabolico]

Here's some more, from yesterday:

Berlusconi wants Sheva back
Friday 4 May, 2007
Milan President Silvio Berlusconi has admitted that he would be happy to welcome Andriy Shevchenko back to the club. “Our doors are always wide open,” he claimed.

The Ukrainian quit the Rossoneri last summer when he joined Chelsea in a £30m deal, but it seems that the former Italian Prime Minister is eyeing a sensational reunion.

“I am very close to Sheva,” said Berlusconi, who is actually a Godfather to the striker’s little boy.

“I know that he has some problems now and I am sorry that he was knocked out of the Champions League this week.

“I also know that he would like to return to Milan. We will see, he knows that the doors are not just ajar, they're wide open,” added the Rossoneri official.

The 30-year-old has had a difficult first season in the Premiership and missed the Champions League semi-final with Liverpool on Tuesday with a groin injury which will require surgery this summer.

Meanwhile, the media mogul also confirmed his trust in goalkeeper Nelson Dida despite his recent alternating form and rumours which claim that Milan want Gigi Buffon of Juventus.

“I obviously like Buffon as he is the best player in Italy,” added the President.

“However, we have renewed Dida’s contract because we are convinced of his true value. His mistakes? They were not howlers, it was just bad luck.”

The under-fire Brazilian was blasted in the Italian media for his errors in the Champions League 3-2 defeat against Manchester United, even if he did little wrong in the return.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Forza_Roma]

Berlusconi is an idiot. Kaka has basically brought Milan to the final of CL and instead of applauding Kaka, he talks about Sheva's return? Ridiculous. One would think he would keep his mouth shut about any transfers until after the season. There was so much pressure on Kaka this season to preform in the absence of Shev, and not that he has finally performed, you talk about Sheva's return? Terrible!

[Diabolico]

To be honest I think the vast majority of the post-Sheva pressure was on Gilardino and Oliveira. Kaka, from my experience, was applauded by Milan fans and Milan management even when he wasn't performing at his best.

I'm not entirely for nor entirely against Sheva returning, but I wonder if he's too far past prime. If he came back, would we be getting the "old" Milan Sheva we remember, or would we get the "new" Chelsea-form Sheva at Milan?

[Jager]

From what I gather, the Ultras are dead against any move for him. Not unlike the Inter Ultras and Ronaldo.

[Diabolico]

I get where the ultras are coming from on this. Personally I'm totally against Milan pursuing him, though not quite so much as I once was, since we've proved nicely via getting to the CL final that we can succeed without him.

If Sheva initiates it, though, then I'm more OK with it. Just so long as any "crawling back"-type stuff comes from Sheva, not Milan.

[DavidMc]

Quite possible this move could happen. I know he hasnt exactly had a bad season, but he hasnt hit the heights Chelsea expected him too. But i agree with whats been said, maybe his time playing for Milan has been and to go back and not perform at the San Siro, he would ruin the legend that he left there.

[Aladino]

I am still not 100% convinced, I too probably feel like most ultra's he made his grave now he must rest in it. Wasn't our faukt he left the way, and milan isn't a club where you can just come back and expected to loved again. Where was the love he showed us when he left?

I amnot dead set against it, but I am not geting excited at the prospect of his possible return either

[Diabolico]

OK, now the Sheva stuff is getting serious:

GALLIANI: 'Sheva? We'll keep a place open for a few months...'
5/9/2007

MILAN - In the course of the press conference to launch the deal between A.C.Milan and Eagle Pictures, Adriano Galliani answered a question concerning Andriy Shevchenko: 'Sheva remains in our hearts, he and his wife have been invited to Athens to follow the Champions League Final. As for the future, let's see, he is a Chelsea player. Anyway, he knows, we will keep a place open for a few months seeing as after his marriage Kakà has freed up a non-European Union place. But we are not talking about the future too much, now we have to think about the final.'

AC MILAN - Sito Ufficiale - Official Website

Even when Galliani says stuff like this, it NEVER makes it to acmilan.com (the world's most cheerleading, rumor-free official club website) unless it's practically a done deal. Things may change in the future, but at this point, I'd say Milan is VERY serious about Sheva and I would not be surprised at all if we really do end up with him.

[D-Kin]

His comments are very, very interesting.

Milan have revealed that they will keep free a non-EU spot in their squad just in case Andriy Shevchenko desires a Chelsea exit.

The Ukrainian has been consistently linked with a return to the Rossoneri since his £30m summer move to Stamford Bridge and the Italian club are keeping their doors open.

“Sheva has a special place in Milan’s heart and we have decided to keep a non-EU spot for him for a few months, as we wait to see what happens,” said Vice-President Adriano Galliani.

“Andriy and his wife have been invited to Athens to follow us in the Champions League Final. As for the future, we will see, as now he is a Chelsea player.

“Anyway he knows that we will keep a spot open for a few months seeing as Kaka has freed up a non-EU place after his marriage.

“But we don’t really want to talk too much about the future as we just have to think about the Final for now.”

The former Dynamo Kiev ace has struggled to adapt to life in the Premiership and has scored just four League goals.

President Silvio Berlusconi had stated last week that he would gladly welcome back the 2004 European Footballer of the Year if he decided to leave Chelsea.

“When it comes to Shevchenko our doors are not just ajar, they are wide open,” declared the former Prime Minister.

Shevchenko, who spent seven years with Milan, reportedly left the San Siro at the request of his wife who was keen on London life.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Diabolico]

Yeah, if we really are "holding" a non-EU spot for him, that's such a severe limitation on our buying options that Milan's management must not be simply considering Sheva, but nearly counting on signing him.

Incidentally, do you (or anyone else) know if Eto'o has an EU passport? Somehow I thought he did, but I could be wrong. If he doesn't, this Sheva thing would somewhat kill the Eto'o rumors, at least for now.

[D-Kin]

Eto'o has been in Spain since he was a teenager so I think he might have one.

[Diabolico]

Thanks, I hope he does have one. I like him, and would like for him to still be a (rumored) consideration for Milan.

[Forza_Roma]

The Godfather has spoken...Literally lol. Shevchenko is family to Milan and he would be welcomed back at an instant. But Milan don't need him what so ever. Ronaldo, Kaka, Gilardino. They are set.