The Ukrainian's American wife Kristen used an interview with Italian fashion magazine Chi to make it clear she wants to go back to Italy.

Chelsea will not let the £30m flop go for a knock-down price, but Shevchenko's wife, the prime force in his move to England, is keen to go back "home".

She said: "Milan is our city and and where we want to be. It would be wonderful for Andriy to go back to Milan and play with Ronaldo."