Roman Abramovich lands Andrei Arshavin for Chelsea

Andrei Arshavin last night flew in from Russia to sign for Chelsea.

Barcelona matched Chelsea's £12million offer - but Blues owner Roman Abramovich intervened personally to sign Arshavin.

Mirror Sport revealed yesterday how Abramovich even went to the Russian team hotel during the Euros to persuade the Zenit St Petersburg playmaker to join his side.

It is the oil tycoon's dream to have a fellow Russian playing in the Chelsea first team - and he persuaded Arshavin that he would be better suited to the Premier League than Spain.

Arshavin, 27, and his agent Pavel Andreev met with Zenit yesterday to tell them officially he wanted to leave and to be allowed to activate the £12m buy-out clause in his contract.

And with more than one club bidding it could have turned into an auction.

Yet despite Ashavin saying it was his dream to play for Barca, a Zenit spokesman said last night: "Andrei never rejected the idea of moving to Chelsea.

"The Chelsea managers know the situation and have already talked to his agent."

Chelsea veteran Claude Makelele, 35, despite signing a new contract, was yesterday having talks with Paris Saint Germain.

And the Blues also released Argentine World Cup star Hernan Crespo, 33 tomorrow, after signing him for £16.8m in 2003.