Chelsea would have signed Fernando Llorente if they had been a bit more firm and shown more love to the striker in negotiations during last summer transfer window.
The striker reveals to Marca, that he was actually confident of signing for Chelsea until Mauricio Pochettino called him on August 30 to express his intentions for him and disclose Tottenham Hotspur’s project.
Chelsea had pursued the former Athletic Bilbao striker the entire summer and were on the verge of sealing a deal to reunite him and his former mentor Antonio Conte, until the timely intervention by Pochettino.
Spurs agreed a £14m deal to kill the hopes of Chelsea sealing a deadline day swoop for the former Swansea striker.
The 30-year old explains, it was his conversation with Pochettino that changed everything.
It was a difficult decision that I had to take at the last moment. Conte, whom I admired since I was with him at Juventus, showed a great interest in me since last January. But Chelsea did not finish the deal with Swansea.
With Tottenham everything was easier and faster. Pochettino called me on August 30 and I fell in love. I was filled with enthusiasm by his words and his sports project … I thought I was going to Chelsea but Tottenham were more firm in their intention to sign me.
They reached an agreement very quickly with Swansea and despite all of those difficult circumstances [with Chelsea], I decided to come to Tottenham. I know [Pochettino], I know how he worked at Espanyol, Southampton, and how he has changed Tottenham in three years. This club has a lot of stability, they are a family and the project is spectacular, it does not stop growing. I’m very happy to be here.
Fernando Llorente, Marca
Chelsea have had to rely on only Alvaro Morata and Michy Batshuayi in what promises to be a long grueling season, Conte’s players play in four competitions this campaign.
