Arsenal lose out on Abbiati

CHRISTIAN ABBIATI has ended speculation that he was considering a move to Arsenal

The new European champions claimed they had received an offer from the Gunners for the Italy international goalkeeper but turned it down.

The club had earlier issued a statement saying: “AC Milan and Christian Abbiati have by common consent refused a mega offer from Arsenal.”

The Rossoneri also revealed that the keeper had taken a pay cut but in return they had extended his contract until 2008.

Abbiati told Milan’s TV Channel: “My new contract with AC Milan was established a long time ago.

Meanwhile Alex McLeish’s lengthy pursuit of Nuno Capucho was finally concluded yesterday after he signed a two-year deal with Rangers.

Having released veteran Claudio Caniggia, the Ibrox manager left officials with instructions that Capucho was his number one summer target.

And he was contacted on holiday yesterday with the news that the deal, in the region of £670,000, had been struck with Porto.

The Portuguese international striker had to rush back home after signing the two-year deal.