Wilkins blasts Kaka and Villa over Chelsea snubs
CHELSEA assistant manager Ray Wilkins has hit out at foreign stars who take “the soft option” after the Blues’ high-profile snubs from Kaka and David Villa.
Brazil star Kaka rejected Chelsea’s overtures and a chance to link up with his manager at AC Milan, Carlo Ancelotti, in favour of a £56m switch to Real Madrid.
The Blues have also had to concede defeat in their pursuit of Spain striker Villa, who is set to leave Valencia but looks bound for Real as well.
“Do they want the challenge of the Premier League? It’s difficult to play in the Premier League as a foreign player, especially in the first year,” Wilkins said. “Are some of these players taking the slightly softer option in going to Real Madrid and staying somewhere where they know and not taking up the challenge elsewhere? I don’t know. I’m just playing devil’s advocate. Our league is the best league in the world.”
Wilkins, who denied that ex-Milan defender Paolo Maldini would join the Chelsea backroom team, predicted arrivals of “the utmost quality”. But the agent of Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso yesterday played down reports linking the ex-Rangers player to Stamford Bridge.
“Milan is Gennaro’s home,” said Andrea D’Amico. “The fact Gattuso and Ancelotti get on really well doesn’t mean he will leave Milan.”