'Russian Ronaldinho' a step closer to joining Chelsea following Moscow talks with Abramovich

CSKA Moscow boss Zico says he will not stand in the way of Yuri Zhirkov moving to Chelsea. Sources in Moscow say Stamford Bridge owner Roman Abramovich has held preliminary talks with the Russians over the 25-year-old's summer transfer. Sportsmail first revealed in January that Chelsea were keen on the Euro 2008 star, dubbed the Russian Ronaldinho. Zhirkov, who prefers to play down the left wing but can also fill in at left back, is considered one of the best wide men in the world by Russia and Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink and he posseses the pace sadly lacking in the Blues team. Abramovich and Hiddink saw Zhirkov in action during CSKA's UEFA Cup victory against Aston Villa last month. Reports in Moscow said Abramovich congratulated the players in the dressing room after the 2-0 win in the Russian capital. And the oligarch also talked to CSKA president Yevgeni Giner to discuss the preliminary conditions of the transfer, according to Tvoi Den newspaper. CSKA subsequently spurned interest from Bayern Munich and Juventus. Zico said: 'Zhirkov is a player of such high level that in my opinion he would show all his real potential only playing in such a strong competition as the English Premier League. 'He would easily fit into Chelsea's first-choice team. I don't like to lose him but I won't stop his move to London.' A winner of the UEFA Cup with CSKA in 2005, Zhirkov was also credited by UEFA with scoring the goal of the 2006-2007 Champions League when he chipped the ball over two opponents, dribbled from the half-way line and then beat the Hamburg goalkeeper. After Euro 2008, Hiddink said: 'Zhirkov plays very modern game. He's capable of covering all the left side of the pitch alone. 'A player can only do this if he has brilliant technical skills and physical condition. He's top class footballer.'

Source: Daily_Mail