Everybody Wants Andriy

Andriy Shevchenko, now out of the first-string red-black Milan after the latter signed Brazilian Rivaldo, is now being increasingly tipped by the world media for various European clubs. Among those pining for the Ukrainian are the English Manchester United and the Spanish Real and Atletico... Although the rossi-neri President Adriano Galiani is still trying hard to stem the tide of misinformation and speculations about Shevchenko, he is still the talk of the town. Usually, when such a promotion campaign is launched, it is inspired by none other than the owner club. This time even Leonid Buriak has blurted out that the Spain’s Real Madrid suggested that Milan take the Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo in exchange for Andriy Shevchenko plus a handsome sum of money for the Ukrainian striker. He said this at a Kyiv press conference. The same words of the Ukrainian national team coach were quoted by the Dynamo Kyiv official site www.dynamo.kiev.ua with the reservation, “It is difficult for me to judge whether this information is authentic.” Buriak found it difficult to explain the reason why Milan relegated Shevchenko to the bench for the past few matches, suggesting that there are “some problems in the club and some displeasure on the part of the coach.” Word has it that Andriy came into conflict with Rivaldo and Filippo Inzaghi, i.e., the players who vie with the Ukrainian for a place in the red-black attack line. Perhaps this is why Mr. Buriak encouraged Andriy, saying on the eve of the match versus Slovakia that he considers our player to be stronger than the Brazilian and the Italian who play in the first string. On the other hand, Galiani denies the very possibility of Andriy’s transfer as well any conflict in his squad.

“I am tired of repeating that we are not going to sell Shevchenko to anyone or anywhere. Yet, the rumors about his transfer never die down. There will be no superexchange of Shevchenko for Figo. Real in any case has many strong forwards, so there is no sense for the Madrid club to sign Andriy. Andriy has not yet got back into shape after his injury — this is why he is not always in the first string. The information about Shevchenko’s conflict with Rivaldo and Inzaghi is nothing but pure invention,” www.rtr-sport.ru quoted Galiani the other day as saying. Andriy himself refrains from public statements, repeatedly saying that his mind is still set at playing for Italy’s northern capital. With this in view, it can be predicted with an almost 100% guarantee that our forward is not going “to play the younger brother” in Atletico. The latter wants, though, to rent, not buy, Andriy just to the end of the season. But we must also remember other clubs. For instance, the multimillionaire English Manchester United could well make an extremely lucrative offer to the Italians now languishing, incidentally, in a debt pit.