Luiz Felipe Scolari visited Chelsea's training ground at Cobham yesterday and walked straight into the middle of a row over whether he has made a world- record bid for AC Milan's playmaker Kaka.
Scolari has reputedly offered around £50 million for his fellow Brazilian, who is currently the World Footballer of the Year.
Milan have repeatedly stated the player is not for sale, while Kaka, 26, has voiced his intention to stay at the San Siro.
AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani insisted Chelsea have tried to tempt the club into parting with Kaka and that the Rossoneri have also received inquiries for influential midfielder Andrea Pirlo.
"For Kaka, an astronomical offer has arrived from Chelsea," Galliani said. "For Pirlo, there have been many requests. As for him, neither Pirlo nor his agent have come in to my office asking for an improvement in his salary."
But Galliani's claims drew a sharp response from Chelsea, who claimed they were without foundation.
Kaka, a favourite of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, is in Brazil recovering from injury. Milan had previously dismissed as fanciful Chelsea's attempts to pull off the biggest signing in football history. Any move for Kaka would provide a strong sign that Chelsea are making plans to replace Frank Lampard, the England midfielder who has been linked with a move to Inter Milan.
Kaka was reportedly angry with Milan over their decision to bar him from playing at the Beijing Olympics.
Kaka signed a five-year contract in March but is also aware that Milan missed out on a place in the Champions League after finishing fifth in Serie A last season.
Chelsea may still be prepared to offer Didier Drogba and Andrei Shevchenko in part exchange in any transfer activity.
Drogba remains intent on leaving Chelsea, regardless of Scolari's arrival as manager. Drogba has been unsettled at Stamford Bridge since Jose Mourinho's dismissal as manager in September. The Ivory Coast striker could be used as part-exchange bait to land Kaka.
Though Chelsea are preparing to replace Drogba with Barcelona's transfer-listed forward Samuel Eto'o, they will look for a fee of over £20 million for a player who has scored 80 goals in 174 appearances for the club. "Didier is still desperate to leave and he wants to go as soon as possible," said a source close to the Ivorian.
Scolari spent the day inspecting the facilities and meeting key staff, who will include three assistants from his time with the Brazil and Portugal national teams. Brazil's former goalkeeping coach Carlos Pracidelli has been recruited from Palmeiras to take on scouting and other duties. Steve Clarke, who worked under Scolari's predecessor Avram Grant, will stay on as an assistant coach after meeting Scolari in Portugal last week.
"It is fantastic to finally be here," said Scolari. "The training ground is world class and I am very impressed by everything I have seen and heard."
What a wonderful dream MATHIAS have thought out I wish it could happen like that Dear you have already spent mllions but Champions League So far away from you people Do what ever buy what ever You will loose at the final moment LONG LIVE UNITED
A salary cap should be imposed on all leagues. Simple as that
Why is everyone so concerned about how much money Chelsea spend? United have spent the follwing on just some of their current squad: Rooney - £30m (From Everton) Ferdinand - £30m (Leed) Carrick - £18 (Spurs) Hargreaves - £18m (Bayern) Ronaldo - £12m (Sporting) Nani & Anderson - £25m (Sporting) Saha - £12.5m (Fulham) That's virtually £150m, just on players. No one accuses United of having 'purchased' their various titles...bottom line is money talks. Clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool will always be 'also rans' until a rich benefactor allows them to compete in what essentially is a two horse race, and will remain so for the forseeable future.
I dream of the day when the banks forclose on the Manchester Based Real Madrid Feeder Club, The red half of the area occupied by scousers and that Multi national club based in London who play pretty football but don't like to score goals. Add to this roman to decide that hes bored at the bridge and decides that he's going to invest in Andy Murray. We can then have a more competative Premiership with any number of clubs fighting it out at the top..Oh well..I can dream..Also is there any truth in the rumour that Roman has made a bid for that fantastic Spanish player Nadal. Someone told him he now plays well on grass.
"Chelsea last season were a class act and unlucky not to do a double" and I quote, so adding someone in the class of Kaka can only add to the squad and the possibilties of winning more trophies, need I say more ???
So, 'Scolari has made a bid'of 50.m for Kaka. Not Chelsea, nor Abramovich, but Scolari! The wtiter also writes...Kaka is also aware that Milan missed out on a place in the Champions League after finishing 5th in Serie A last season... Funny, I thought Kaka was an integral part of that team. Not the most erudite of articles by Mr Carrick.
Hey Xanadu lovely to have you on the Chelsea pages again, not that you've got Blue pyjamas or antything is it!!?? You love us!!! that's why you're on here with the Chels fans everyday> Well we love you too mate. You keep worrying about us and we'll keep up the good work. Bye Bye Cristiano x x x
sounds like a couple of 5 year olds fighting over who has the most pogs in the playground on this thread. sort it out.
please if u are an untied fan get of this topic, cuz this is simply out of ur world, united will never have 5o m pounds and please why are nobody looking at madrid for trying to sighn ronaldo? reports say they would pay at least 60 m pounds so whats the big deal? we have money and untied dont and one day which looks not too far away ur now manager well go of and what will happen to the club then? yes they will turn into Newcastle! so u can cry all u want but we will still have the most money and the best players and what are u going to do about, hey heres a thought u can scout and when they turn out ok we buy them off u guess ahh!? good idear so enjoy ur ride cuz its about done!! goodbye untied fans!!!! the best wishes chelsea football club '-)
Oh dear Xanadu got out the wrong side of the bed...again!! A few facts, Man Utd win the premier league by 2 points, then go on to win the Champions league by the skin of their teeth, with the current squad hailed as the best ever. All this against team that that was in turmoil with a rookie manger. Seems like only one club has any room for improvement. As for not winning anything, seems you have your head buried in the sand....wake up and smell the coffee. Seem to remember Chelsea did not need the last game of the season to ensure victory when they won the premiership...back to back...with the 1st time setting all sorts of records. Face facts, we have a bottomless pit of money, you on the other hand are mortgaged to the hilt....long live the Glaciers.
UEFA must surely introduce a limit on the amount a club can spend, being in some way proportionate to their income. It's bad enough that the top 4 get the extra Champions League income that helps keep them in the top 4, but Chelsea's spending has been obscene over the last 5 years. When you can spend £500million on players and £50million on a single player, it not only removes any sense of achievement for the club, but it devalues the entire competition. The sooner Platini says you can only spend what you earn, the better. I suspect he hasn't got the balls to do it though.
Please let me have a playstaion 3 Mummy please - I'll get lots of new friends then - please let me have one please.... .. .
Abramovich has probably seen Kaka on the telly a couple of times and been told by some hack who works for The Daily Sport that he's a good player, so now he's prepared to throw millions at signing him. The Russian will continue to spend a fortune on any player whose name ends in a vowel in the hope of winning the Champions' League. Meanwhile, clubs that operate within a budget and who leave the signing of players to the team manager will continue to out perform this pretentious little club from the Fulham Road and show them up for the nonentities that they really are. Have a nice day, CFC losers.
Testing 2
Tesing for Chelsea deny £50m offer for AC Milan's Kaka
AC Milan are in deep trouble if they don't sell Kaka. Roman Abramovich's timing on this matter is crucial and Chelsea now have every chance of making the deal happen! Having experienced a poor season by their own high standards last term, the Rossoneri, short of money, can't even afford a 'regular' deal for Arsenal's Adebayor! They had to embarassingly withdraw their interest in recognition of not being able to compete with the financial muscle of Barcelona. As their house mates at the San Siro and new Serie A title holders Inter frantically strengthening their squad under new manager Mourinho what are AC Milan to do to improve their lot? A World record bid to include the much sought after Drogba and possibly Shevchenko for their star player Kaka could indeed be the answer to their prayers. One also suspects that this deal could have been in the pipeline for some weeks now as Kaka would have been on Scolari's wish list from before day one. And why not, he is officially the Worlds fines t footballer!
Whilst big names are important to clubs, the clubs owners should remember that there are young talents that need to be delveloped, kaka was once a young talent,i am a big fan of chelsea and i would like nothing more to see kaka in stamford bridge, but not for that price tag, i don't think an player is worth that much, i am sure there are so many strikers in the world that can do better than kaka if given the opportunity, besides no one man can truely change a game, thats why FOOTBALL IS A TEAM SPORT.