Shevchenko management plays down Milan invitation

LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko's management company has played down the significance of an invitation from AC Milan for the Ukrainian to attend tomorrow's Champions League final in Athens as their guest.

Shevchenko has been linked with a move back to the Italian club, where he spent seven successful years, after failing to live up to expectations in his first season in the Premier League.

''Andriy is not in talks of any kind with AC Milan,'' said a WMG spokesperson in a statement. ''He has a contract with Chelsea and that is the end of the matter.

''AC Milan has invited a whole host of former players to this showpiece match and Andriy is just one of those players. There is nothing else to it and he will decide whether to attend tomorrow.'' AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said this month that a space would be kept open in the squad for the player should he decide to return to the Italian side.

''Sheva remains in our hearts, he and his wife have been invited to Athens to follow the Champions League final,'' Galliani told a news conference.

''As for the future, let's see, he is a Chelsea player. Anyway, he knows, we will keep a place open for a few months seeing as after his marriage Kaka has freed up a non-European Union place.'' Milan face Liverpool, who beat Chelsea in the semi-finals, in tomorrow's final.

Reuters TB DB2112