AC Milan chief Adriano Galliani has revealed how Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich asked them to drop talks over the signing of Brazilian sensation Alexandre Pato.

"There were many obstacles," Galliani told the Gazzetta dello Sport. "Pato is considered the best player under 18 in the world and had caught the interest of all Europe's big clubs - Inter, Real Madrid and above all Chelsea. On Thursday both Peter Kenyon and Roman Abramovich called asking us to step aside so they could go for him."