ROBERTO CARLOS has admitted that he came “very close” to pulling on the blue shirt of Chelsea in 2007.
The Brazilian legend enjoyed a glittering Real Madrid career that saw him play 527 times and lift 13 trophies – but at 34 many clubs still thought he had something to offer.
Roberto Carlos was one of the world’s leading left-backs when he departed Real Madrid in 2007Reuters
And Jose Mourinho, who was in his first stint at the Blues back then, was keen on signing Carlos.
The Portuguese boss already had one of the world’s best left-backs in Ashley Cole, but he was open to upgrading on on deputy Wayne Bridge.
Carlos, 50, has revealed all how close he came to moving to Stamford Bridge.
Speaking to Goal in 2020, he said: “I had two proposals, Fenerbahce and Chelsea. Chelsea didn’t work out so I signed for Fenerbahce.
“But, with Chelsea, it got very close. It was literally agreed and I just had to go there and sign the contract.
“It was just a week before I signed for Fenerbahce and I had been to Paris to meet both Roman Abramovich and Peter Kenyon.
“Unfortunately, in the final moments something didn’t work out just before finalising, which happens a lot in football. There was an issue with the lawyer.
“It was all agreed, though, and I am 100 per cent sure I would have done well in the Premier League and it would have suited my characteristics.”
I am 100 per cent sure I would have done well in the Premier League and it would have suited my characteristics.
Roberto Carlos
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As it happened, Mourinho was sacked less than three months later – while Carlos spent two years in Istanbul before returning to Brazil with Corinthians.
While he may have been in the twilight of his career when approached by the Blues, it turns out that they weren’t the first English side to try and bring him to these shores.
He continued: “I was still playing in Brazil with Palmeiras when Aston Villa came in for me in 1995.
“But they couldn’t afford the deal, after that I went to Inter.”
The iconic Brazilian was a key part of the ‘Galacticos’ era alongside David Beckham in MadridAP:Associated Press