GALLIANI: MILAN REJECTED REAL'S SHEVA BID

In September, Raul revealed that Shevchenko was the man he most wanted to partner the in world football, with the Spanish international left to forage a lone trail up front as Fernando Morientes is often injured.

Now Milan's vice-chairman Adriano Galliani has admitted Real have contacted his club several times over making a bid for Shevchenko but they are yet to give in to the offers available.

Galliani revealed that Real president Florentino Perez had talked to Milan about the former Dinamo Kiev star but they were not prepared to sell their best player for the sake of money.

"Last summer Real offered an amazing figure for Sheva, but we didn't accept it.  To sell a champion to pay debts is not a solution for the club," said Galliani.

"As many team have done, Milan have not thought of selling stars to solve club financial troubles.  Juventus' great financial strength is because of Zinedine Zidane's sale to Real Madrid.

"If we had sold Shevchenko our economic situation would be the same but I would have committed suicide."