AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has claimed the club will never sell Andriy Shevchenko after the Ukrainian was linked with a move to Roma.
Shevchenko has failed to score for two months in Serie A, a barren spell unseen since his move from Dynamo Kyiv.
But Galliani said on Tuesday: "I can confirm that Shevchenko will not be sold. We have never discussed selling our champion with any club. It is not happening now and it never will."
The Rossoneri chief added that Shevchenko was still not 100 per cent fit and is still recovering from an earlier injury. "Shevchenko has some physical problems and is not at his best," he admitted.
"However, he is calm and I met him on Monday. We talked for a long time. I repeated to him that he is not for sale and that he will be our leader in 2002-03.
"He was pleased about this project and is happy Milan aren't selling him. It is more important that he recovers from his problems and can end the season in the best way possible."
Shevchenko was first linked with a move away from the San Siro last season after Milan tumbled out of the Champions' League at the second group stage.
Their Serie A challenge then faltered badly and Shevchenko grew disillusioned with the club. In March 2001 he hinted that he would be interested in moving to Real Madrid.
The forward subsequently signed a one-year contract extension in July 2001 committing him to Milan until 2006.
Shevchenko has failed to score for two months in Serie A, a barren spell unseen since his move from Dynamo Kyiv.
But Galliani said on Tuesday: "I can confirm that Shevchenko will not be sold. We have never discussed selling our champion with any club. It is not happening now and it never will."
The Rossoneri chief added that Shevchenko was still not 100 per cent fit and is still recovering from an earlier injury. "Shevchenko has some physical problems and is not at his best," he admitted.
"However, he is calm and I met him on Monday. We talked for a long time. I repeated to him that he is not for sale and that he will be our leader in 2002-03.
"He was pleased about this project and is happy Milan aren't selling him. It is more important that he recovers from his problems and can end the season in the best way possible."
Shevchenko was first linked with a move away from the San Siro last season after Milan tumbled out of the Champions' League at the second group stage.
Their Serie A challenge then faltered badly and Shevchenko grew disillusioned with the club. In March 2001 he hinted that he would be interested in moving to Real Madrid.
The forward subsequently signed a one-year contract extension in July 2001 committing him to Milan until 2006.