AC Milan Chairman Silvio Berlusconi on Friday confounded transfer-market watchers by insisting he wanted former San Siro darling Andriy Shevchenko back with the freshly crowned European champs.
Gainsaying his deputy Adriano Galliani who last week said a return of the Ukraine star from Chelsea was "more impossible than likely," Berlusconi insisted that "as a romantic" he preferred Sheva to Galliani's reported target, Barcelona's Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o.
"I believe Sheva would complete our attack in an ideal way," said the Milan boss who stressed that his preference for Shevchenko was also due to sentimental reasons.
"Shevchenko is like a son to me. I have been a part of important moments in his life and I'm godfather to his son," Berlusconi said.
The 2004 European Footballer of the Year joined Chelsea last summer for 45 millions euros.
But he has struggled to get used to the English league and relations are reportedly strained with coach Jose Mourinho.
Shevchenko, 30, became Milan's all-time second-highest scorer in his seven years at the San Siro Stadium. His 173 goals helped the team win the Italian championship, the Italian Cup, the European Champions League and the European Super Cup.
If Milan fail to bring him back, another reported target - as well as Eto'o - is Chelsea's Ivory Coast star Didier Drogba.
GILARDINO DILEMMA.
However, the signing of Shevchenko, Eto'o or Drogba could cause Milan to lose Italy forward Alberto Gilardino, their top scorer last season with 16 goals in all competitions.
The 24-year-old is believed to fear that the arrival of a big name could see him spending too much time on the bench.
Brazil legend Ronaldo has become Milan's first-choice forward since joining the club from Real Madrid in January.
Gilardino faces stiff competition from two-goal Champions League Final hero Filippo Inzaghi for second place in the pecking order, which does not guarantee a slot in the starting line-up because Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti often fields just one all-out striker.
So another star on the roster would make things even tougher for Gilardino.
Galliani has said he'd like Gilardino to stay but granted him permission to move if he brings in 24 million euros - about ten less than the asking price for Eto'o or Drogba.
Berlusconi, however, gave Gila a firm thumbs up.
"He's an extraordinary lad, Milan's kind of player. Alberto will be a strongpoint in the Milan of the future," the former Italian premier said.
Also on Friday, Galliani quashed rumours arising from a meeting this week between Real Madrid officials and Milan's Brazil star Kaka'.
He confirmed that Kaka' - the driving force behind last season's victorious Champions League campaign - was not for sale.
