Fiorentina midfielder Adrian Mutu insists he cannot afford to pay Chelsea the €17 million he owes.
The Romanian was informed in July by the Court of Arbitration for Sport that he must pay the Premiership club damages for breach of contract, after he tested positive for a banned substance during his time at Stamford Bridge.
"I have to respect all the decisions which have been made, but I simply don't have that amount of money," he noted.
"It's an enormous figure and I think that there are only four or five players in the world who have that kind of cash available to them."
Mutu, who has admitted that life has been tough in recent months, added that he hopes some sort of resolution can soon be found.
"I am talking to my lawyers and we hope to reach a compromise."