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Soccer Player Shevchenko Back in Milan
The biggest transfer of the soccer summer off season took place last weekend. Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko has returned to Milan, where he came from two years ago to join the London team Chelsea. The financial details of the deal, announced on the Chelsea website Saturday evening, have not been made public. Milan team owner Silvio Berlusconi has expressed his delight at the deal, however. Chelsea, meanwhile, has lightened up is payroll and dispensed of an eternal malcontent who never thought he had enough time on the field.
The saga of Shevchenko’s return began almost as soon as he arrived in England. Shevchenko made his name in seven seasons at the Italian club, being the best striker the team had had in 50 years. His departure, just before the 2006 world championship, was painful in Milan and a dream come true for Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who paid ˆ30 million for him. Shevchenko’s wife, American model Kristen Pazik, was instrumental in the decision. London was a more promising place for her career.
Shevchenko had difficulties from the start at Chelsea. Temperamental coach Jose Mourinho was dissatisfied with Shevchenko from the beginning, but forced to place him in the starting lineup. Both the team’s statistics and Shevchenko’s began to suffer from the lack of teamwork on the team. Chelsea played by different principles than Milan, where the entire team centered on him. In Chelsea, he was expected to play with the team, even though Shevchenko’s very presence was to the disadvantage of Chelsea’s star striker Didier Drogba.
The tensions emerged into the public spotlight within months. To add to it, Shevchenko suffered injuries in training. Shevchenko’s life was easier after Mourinho was replaced by Avram Grant. He was once again a member of the starting lineup. But Grant was quickly disappointed with Shevchenko, who made 22 goals in 76 matches in two seasons, and Shevchenko returned to the back bench. When Grant was replaced at the end of last season after a series of poor showings, new trainer Luis Felipe Scolari made it clear that Shevchenko could expect little understanding from him either.
Meanwhile, things were going little better for Milan. There is unofficial information that Berlusconi, who is also prime minster of Italy, spoke with both Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin about getting Shevchenko back. The Italian team has changed in Shevchenko’s absence, however. Notable, it has acquired star Ronaldinho from Barcelona, so Shevchenko may be forced to learn some teamwork still.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Aug. 25, 2008
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