Milan, 5 August (AKI) - One of Italy's top football stars, Andrea Pirlo, from AC Milan will end his career with the club, prime minister and club owner, Silvio Berlusconi, said on Wednesday. Berlusconi's announcement ended ongoing speculation that the midfielder would transfer to the UK club, Chelsea.

"Andrea Pirlo has withdrawn from the market, he will stay with us and finish his career with Milan," Berlusconi said, after a meeting with club chief executive Adriano Galliani and coach Leonardo.

"You know Chelsea has been after Andrea Pirlo with a generous financial offer. We have spoken with the player and agreed to Leonardo's request to keep Pirlo."

Pirlo is a dead-ball specialist credited with helping Milan to win one Serie A title and two Champions League crowns.

The playmaker was also in Italy's 2006 World Cup winning squad.

Berlusconi said the club would also return to the market to acquire an attacker as the coach had requested.

Berlusconi and Galliani, met Leonardo to discuss several issues affecting the Serie A club ahead of the new season, including the sale of the Italy international.

Chelsea had reportedly sought to secure the 30-year-old Italian player with an offer of 12million (20 million euros) plus striker Claudio Pizarro before Milan rejected the approach.

Milan fans were unlikely to have reacted positively to a Pirlo transfer, having already seen the club sell Brazilian midfielder Kaka to Real Madrid for 65 million euros in one of the most expensive football player sales earlier this summer.