After a bit of a false start with Inter Milan, Roberto Carlos found his feet in Europe at Real Madrid, and went on to become one of the most memorable players in his position of all time.
When he decided to leave the Spanish capital in 2007, after 11 years in the “Galacticos” team, there would have been no shortage of interest in him, but he claims that the main interest was from two teams:
“I had two proposals, Fenerbahce and Chelsea. Chelsea didn’t work out so I signed for Fenerbahce,” the left back explained in quotes picked up by Goal.com.
“But, with Chelsea, it got very close. It was literally agreed and I just had to go there and sign the contract,” he continued.
“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.”
It’s one to add to the long list of “nearly” signings Chelsea made back then. By that summer of 2007 we had placed ourselves among Europe’s elite, and Roman was still splashing the cash wildly.
In the end players like Michael Ballack ended up arriving, so we were hardly short changed, but one can only imagine how the board must have been rubbing their hands together in glee at the prospect of such a marketable and well known Brazilian coming to the Bridge.
It might even have changed the story of Jose Mourinho, who was sacked for the first time that season.
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“The greatest talent I ever coached was Ronaldo but at the same time he was the player who created the most problems for me in the dressing room. He used to throw parties and do everything. Once Van Nistelrooy said to me: ‘Coach, the dressing room smells like alcohol’.” – this coach reveals all about the Madrid dressing room, right here.
