Rubin Kazan will have to wait until June before hoping to sign Swedish international midfielder Kim Kallstrom, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas said on Thursday.
Aulas said in a telephone interview the Russian Premier League side’s president had flown in a private jet to the French city and offered five million euros ($A6.25 million) for Kallstrom.
But with Lyon still involved in four competitions, having eliminated the Russian side in the Champions League play-offs, Aulas said the Swede was not for sale – at least not for now.
“We’re not interested in this proposed move as long as we’re still involved in four competitions,” said Aulas. “We’re not selling. We’ve promised to reopen talks in June.”
Lyon are 12 points behind Paris Saint Germain in the French league title race and will play the capital side in the quarter-finals of the French Cup. They also face Marseille in the League Cup final.
Lyon are also fighting to join the last 16 of the Champions League.
Aulas said he flat refused Rubin’s offer, despite being told Kallstrom, one of the club’s best-paid players, “could earn double or triple his net salary” in Russia.
“To start off with, Rubin Kazan’s offer was five million euros. We told them this is not the market price (for Kallstrom),” said Aulas.
Lyon paid Rennes 8.5 million euros for Kallstrom, 29, in June 2006. Earlier this season the Swede signed a contract extension that takes him up to the end of the 2014 season.