Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko claims he turned down the chance to join both Barcelona and Manchester United 11 years ago in favour of a move to AC Milan.
Shevchenko spent seven years with the Rossoneri from 1999 to 2006 before an unsuccessful stint at Chelsea which saw him loaned back to the Rossoneri last term and ended when he rejoined his first club Dynamo Kiev over the summer.
But the 33-year-old, who missed a first-half penalty in Ukraine's 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over England on Saturday, told Focus magazine: "I had the opportunity to play for Barca and Manchester United when I was 22, but I chose Milan."
He added: "And the club were successful, winning everything possible - including the Champions League - and I won the Ballon d'Or. I'm proud of my career.
"Nothing lasts forever. I'm 33 and I don't know how long I'll be fit enough to play. But for the final few years of my career I want to be on the pitch where I started my career."
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'yip' Check-out your own grammar and spelling - you illiterate moron!
Sincerely i like Sheva... but this is an old story.... who really cares now! I pray you help Kiev in CL and qualify Ukraine to 2010
just another sad faillure trying to draw attention to himself by putting his name alongside the worlds best two footballing sides, the truth is he was tested at chelsea and prooved to be an all time failure he should have been ashemed all those times he spent at chelsea getting paid for the orendus performaces he produced
Ya i remember that he was trying to buy shevchenko and rebrov at the time but rebrov went to spurs.
Incredible pace and accuracy - he had every attribute a striker could. Bad choice leaving milan when he was worshiped and knew the team he was playing with to go to a team that had midfielders scored as freely as the strikers.
He's proud of his carreer and so he should be - a real professional superstar striker.
The game could do with more - with kids looking up to ronaldo the game could have about as much contact as basketball soon
He was prolific & his side defeated England just last week, i wouldnt expect any fine response about Chev in this article
Gee. That was your best career decision ever! Guess what? We did not miss you one tiny bit. You may have been a flop like you were at Chelsea anyway.
what other species play football as well raymondcc99?
What a pity Mr Shevchenko,that's a history..If talk about history & can turn back time,I rather have all the "BUSBY BABES"...GLORY GLORY MANCHESTER UNITED!!!
What kind of a name is Yip? Are u a dog? It sounds like a dogs name...If u want honest opinions frm pple,u beta be honest urself. Dnt talk abt cr9 wit bias. I stand to be corrected wen i say dnt compare chevy wit cr9a. Cr9 won evrytn chevy did in a shorter period.They r both good in their own right so dnt downplay any.
Your time is over Sheva, what mattered is where you were not who you turned down!
Sheva one of the best strikers in the history of football..he had amazing finishing by far the most superior finisher in the woorld 1998-2005 were the Shevchenko days.
Another one of those what if's. It is a shame really it would of been good to see him play in the prem when he was in his prime.
I see its mainly losers that commented on this with no real opinion to cast. an actual story on a footballing hall of famer and so most the dirty scum that comment on these pages cant read and undrstand whats going on and since it doesnt have an oppsoing teams name in the title cant come on slagging things off for no reason. a few of you managed it though, sadly! people saying heaint good are either 5 or disabled,probably both
He's rubbish anyway.
whos bothered about this? .....errr NOBODY!
Mr shevchenko we couldnt give a rats testi who you turned down 10 years ago, does it even matter now?
errr NO!
atleast he saved us the troouble of spelling his name
pri its liverpool that go on about history all the time you muppet!
martinmcneill87. shut up and so some respect. he's in the top 5 strikers in our generation and was the best striker in europe for many years. his finishing was 2nd to none!
Kingsley, what are you talking about? of course playing for milan and winning everything and getting the Ballon d'or is the highlight of his career, its the best any player can possibly do apart from including the world cup in it! milan are the bigest club in the world, they were when he was playing top of his game for them anyway and alwas will be up there! so when you have a choice of barca utd and milan you chose milan back then easily! now you would still choose them over utd, they just need to get a top manager in again and show that they are still a top top club. Kingsley you just are a terrible guy, honestly some of the worst things Ive ever ead. shouldnt be mentioned in same sentence as ronaldo, correct he shouldnt. ronaldo is a nothing player compared to what sheva done in his career.
Well done on all your success sheva. you will always be remembered in footballing history! hall of fame!
Not surprised to learn Sheva was wanted by the world's biggest clubs. He was one of the best center forwards in human football history. Maybe those who do not really know football has never been properly informed. Nevermind, Sheva has been and still is a superstar. Sheva's contributions to the football profession will always be remembered.
Not surprised to learn Sheva was wanted by the world's biggest clubs. He was one of the best center forwards in human football history. Maybe those who do not really know football has never been properly informed. Nevermind, Sheva has been and still is a superstar. Sheva's contributions to the football profession will always be remembered.
hmm.. imagine him and Andrei Kanschelskis in the same side. It would have been exhilarating to watch
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