Chelsea refuses to buy Russia’s Andrei Arshavin for 40 million dollars

Russia’s sensation at Euro 2008 Football championship, Andrei Arshavin, who currently plays for Zenit, S. Petersburg, wanted to receive 6.3 million pounds sterling ($12.6 million) a year at London’s Chelsea football club. The club’s administration refused to purchase the leading player of Russia’s national football squad because of Arshavin’s financial demands.

Photo: Chelsea refuses to buy Russia’s Andrei Arshavin for 40 million dollars

Chelsea refuses to buy Russia’s Andrei Arshavin for 40 million dollars

Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea owner, was eager to see the Russian forward in his team, but the transfer fee was too high for the club to deal with. Zenit asked for over 20 million pounds for the player, whereas Arshavin himself was hoping to receive 6.3 million pounds a year, The Telegraph reports.

London ’s Arsenal is said to be the key candidate club to acquire the Russian jewel. Arsenal’s coach, Arsen Wenger, was impressed with Arshavin’s game at Euro 2008.

Zenit’s head coach, Dick Advocaat, said that he would not be holding the player in the clu is someone offers good money for him, about 20-25 million pounds. Andrey will not be playing for a while until the situation with his transfer is settled. He agreed upon such a decision himself,” Advocaat said.

Andrei Arshavin (born May 29, 1981 in Leningrad) is a Russian international football forward who currently plays for Zenit St. Petersburg. He is a versatile second striker who can also play as an attacking midfielder and winger. He is best known for his close control, vision, playmaking ability and speed.

Arshavin was included in Russia's Euro 2008 squad by manager Guus Hiddink, despite being unable to play in the first two group matches due to suspension. He announced his return by setting up the first goal and scoring the second in Russia's final group game against Sweden at Tivoli Neu, Innsbruck, which helped his team qualify for the next round.

In the next match, the quarter-final against the Netherlands, Arshavin repeated the feat with his part in Russia's two goals in the second half of extra time, providing the cross for Dmitri Torbinski's goal and scoring his own four minutes later. Russia consequently reached the semi-finals with a 3–1 victory. For both of these games, UEFA awarded him Man of the Match. Arshavin could not repeat the heroics in the semi-final against eventual winners Spain, which Russia lost 3–0, which led Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, to question whether Arshavin had the physical attributes to play regularly in the Premier League. Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho reacted to the game by ruling out a bid for Arshavin and then question whether he had the maturity to play in a top league. Despite this, Arshavin was named in UEFA's squad for Euro 2008.