Pato and Pirlo staying at Milan, says Leonardo

AC Milan's new coach Leonardo has insisted that forward Alexandre Pato and midfielder Andrea Pirlo will not leave the Serie A club to join their former boss Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea.

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Pirlo: Happy with Milan team-mates

Doubts have been raised over the future of both players this week after being linked to Chelsea, sparking fears among Milan fans that Brazil playmaker Kaka's move to Real Madrid could start an exodus from the San Siro.

However, Leonardo told Gazzetta dello Sport: ''They are not moving from Milan. They are both very important for the team. They are fundamental parts of a recent victorious past, Pirlo especially.''

Earlier on Thursday Pirlo received Italy coach Marcello Lippi's blessing to move to Chelsea.

The World Cup-winning midfielder has been strongly linked with a £20m move to Stamford Bridge. When asked if a move to Chelsea would jeopardise Pirlo's place in Italy's squad, Lippi said: ''It wouldn't be a problem, regardless of where he plays.

''A flight from London to Rome is like a flight from Milan to Rome.''

Pirlo, who is under contract at the San Siro until June 2011, made 26 league appearances to help AC Milan finish third in Serie A this season.

Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani also sought to reassure Milan fans that Pato, who has been a constant goal threat since joining from Internacional in 2007, is going nowhere.

''All the big names will 99.9% (certainly) stay,'' Galliani told reporters. ''Pato, the best 19-year-old striker in the world, (will stay) 100%.''

Earlier this week 19-year-old Brazilian Pato said he planned to hold talks with Ancelotti before deciding on his future.

Meanwhile, Galliani reiterated that Milan want to buy VfL Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko even though the German club have said the Bosnian is not for sale.

He also confirmed Andriy Shevchenko and Philippe Senderos will not be staying after their loans from Chelsea and Arsenal elapsed.