Willian is set to meet his new
Chelsea team-mates at training on Saturday afternoon after Jose Mourinho
sensationally snatched the Brazilian from bitter rivals Tottenham, who
thought they had their man.
The Anzhi Makhachkala forward abandoned his plans to join Spurs and hot-footed it across London to start negotiations with the the Blues.
On Friday night, a £32million transfer was almost complete, with Chelsea offering the player a slightly better financial package and Champions League football. Now he is ready to link-up with the squad in readiness for the acceptance of a work permit application.
MOREScroll down to watch Jose Mourinho: Don't care if Willian or Rooney sign
There was even a theory that it
had been done out of spite, perhaps revenge for Levy’s hardball stance
when Chelsea tried to sign Luka Modric two years ago — or simply to
damage Tottenham’s efforts to close the gap on those above them in the
Barclays Premier League. Such mischief is fiercely denied by those at
Chelsea.
Willian has always been on the radar, they insisted. They were close to signing him two years ago and he performed brilliantly against them for Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League last season before leaving for Anzhi in January.
They were aware of his availability because the Russian club were desperate to offload big earners. So they made a late decision to revive their interest as soon as Abramovich agreed to the costs.
Rarely the diplomat, Jose Mourinho struggled to hide his amusement as he revealed that he had pipped Andre Villas-Boas, his former friend and colleague.
Mourinho made it clear this did not mark the end of his pursuit of Wayne Rooney. He admitted a player would probably leave, but said it would not be Juan Mata.
‘Juan is not a player we want to lose. He is a player we all like and he is a player we all want to keep. We want more quality in the team, we don’t want less quality.
‘I want a 22-player squad. So if somebody comes in, do we need to sell? No, we don’t. Do we need to loan, probably yes. I don’t like to work with big squads.
‘I like to work with a small group of
players and I think 22 is a perfect number to answer to our needs in
four different competitions, and at the same time to leave the door open
for some kids to come out and train with us, to be selected in a few
matches.’
This hints at a possible season on loan for Victor Moses, who appeals to former club Crystal Palace and former boss Roberto Martinez, now at Everton.
Spurs, meanwhile, will turn their attention elsewhere. They are expected to complete a deal for striker Eric Lamela and are keen on his Roma team-mate Miralem Pjanic. CSKA Moscow’s Alan Dzagoev is another possibility.
The Anzhi Makhachkala forward abandoned his plans to join Spurs and hot-footed it across London to start negotiations with the the Blues.
On Friday night, a £32million transfer was almost complete, with Chelsea offering the player a slightly better financial package and Champions League football. Now he is ready to link-up with the squad in readiness for the acceptance of a work permit application.
MOREScroll down to watch Jose Mourinho: Don't care if Willian or Rooney sign
Just Willian: The attacking midfielder is is now expected to join Chelsea instead of Tottenham
At Tottenham, chairman Daniel Levy was still livid. These city rivals have never really got on — and now this.
Willian, 25, had been earmarked to replace Gareth Bale. He is gifted and quick and capable of playing wide or in support of a centre forward. Spurs even had a work permit appointment set up with the Home Office for Friday which had to be cancelled.
Inside White Hart Lane, they could not understand why Chelsea wanted the Brazilian from Anzhi, since they were so well stocked in these positions.
As they stamped their feet in north London, they suspected this had been a late deal struck between friendly Russian oligarchs — Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and his Anzhi counterpart Suleiman Kerimov — and Willian had little say in the matter.
Willian, 25, had been earmarked to replace Gareth Bale. He is gifted and quick and capable of playing wide or in support of a centre forward. Spurs even had a work permit appointment set up with the Home Office for Friday which had to be cancelled.
Inside White Hart Lane, they could not understand why Chelsea wanted the Brazilian from Anzhi, since they were so well stocked in these positions.
As they stamped their feet in north London, they suspected this had been a late deal struck between friendly Russian oligarchs — Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and his Anzhi counterpart Suleiman Kerimov — and Willian had little say in the matter.
Happy One: Mourinho believes he has beaten Tottenham in the race to sign Willian
Plotting: Willian had already passed a medical at Tottenham before Chelsea swooped
Fighting fit: Mourinho instructs his stars, including Michael Essien, Andre Schurrle and Kevin De Bruyne
Instructions: Mourinho talks to his team in training on Friday, while De Bruyne watches on
Willian has always been on the radar, they insisted. They were close to signing him two years ago and he performed brilliantly against them for Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League last season before leaving for Anzhi in January.
They were aware of his availability because the Russian club were desperate to offload big earners. So they made a late decision to revive their interest as soon as Abramovich agreed to the costs.
Rarely the diplomat, Jose Mourinho struggled to hide his amusement as he revealed that he had pipped Andre Villas-Boas, his former friend and colleague.
Preparations: Romelu Lukaku, Cesar Azpilicueta, Andre Schurrle train ahead of Monday's clash
‘I think he already made his decision,’ said Mourinho, when asked about Willian.
And has he chosen Chelsea? Mourinho gave a very slow and deliberate nod.
Then he said: ‘I don’t like to speak before time because football can be crazy. Sometimes it looks like he has but he hasn’t. But I know what the player wants, so we cannot hide.
‘That’s the danger of medicals before contracts but, at the same time, if the medical is after the contract, sometimes you can have a problem before signing a player so you have to do the medical before.
And has he chosen Chelsea? Mourinho gave a very slow and deliberate nod.
Then he said: ‘I don’t like to speak before time because football can be crazy. Sometimes it looks like he has but he hasn’t. But I know what the player wants, so we cannot hide.
‘That’s the danger of medicals before contracts but, at the same time, if the medical is after the contract, sometimes you can have a problem before signing a player so you have to do the medical before.
Snubbed: Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas was close to signing Willian, but the Brazilian chose Chelsea
‘The best thing you can do is do
the medical in secret. If the player is fine, you can sign him. If the
player is not fine, you don’t destroy his career by saying the player
has problems, so you do it in secret and after that sign the contract.’
So, the deal is a formality?
‘We have to do the medical,’ Mourinho added, laughing, clearly delighted to have landed the first big transfer coup of his second coming at Stamford Bridge.
Terrific theatre but nobody at Spurs will see the funny side.
Willian
is expected to undergo his Chelsea medical this weekend and they hope
to have a work permit appointment set up for some time next week, which
could mean he is signed in time to make his debut in Friday’s UEFA Super
Cup against Bayern Munich.So, the deal is a formality?
‘We have to do the medical,’ Mourinho added, laughing, clearly delighted to have landed the first big transfer coup of his second coming at Stamford Bridge.
Terrific theatre but nobody at Spurs will see the funny side.
Knock-on effect? Spurs losing Willian could delay Gareth Bale's world record move to Real Madrid
Mourinho made it clear this did not mark the end of his pursuit of Wayne Rooney. He admitted a player would probably leave, but said it would not be Juan Mata.
‘Juan is not a player we want to lose. He is a player we all like and he is a player we all want to keep. We want more quality in the team, we don’t want less quality.
‘I want a 22-player squad. So if somebody comes in, do we need to sell? No, we don’t. Do we need to loan, probably yes. I don’t like to work with big squads.
On the way out? The news casts doubt over the future of Victor Moses and Juan Mata (below)
This hints at a possible season on loan for Victor Moses, who appeals to former club Crystal Palace and former boss Roberto Martinez, now at Everton.
Spurs, meanwhile, will turn their attention elsewhere. They are expected to complete a deal for striker Eric Lamela and are keen on his Roma team-mate Miralem Pjanic. CSKA Moscow’s Alan Dzagoev is another possibility.
WHERE WOULD WILLIAN FIT IN AT CHELSEA?
Willian is on the brink of becoming the latest recruit to join Chelsea's embarrassment of riches in attacking midfield.
The Blues have already added to their trio of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Juan Mata - with Victor Moses waiting in the wings - by bringing loanee Kevin De Bruyne back into the fold and signing Andre Schurrle.
Now Willian, whose £32million arrival is unlikely to herald too much time on the sidelines, is another star to fit into the mix.
Jose Mourinho admitted some players would have to leave, and Moses looks an obvious candidate for a loan move.
De Bruyne may also find more action away from Stamford Bridge, while rumours persist over a shock departure for Juan Mata.
Willian could play behind the striker at Chelsea (whoever that ends up being) with Hazard and Mata either side and the three rotating, allowing Oscar to drop deeper into the midfield as part of a sitting two alongside Ramires or Frank Lampard.
Willian and Hazard - along with Schurrle - offer a more direct attacking approach than the scheming, creative influence of Mata and Oscar.
It may be that Mourinho wants Willian to add that incisive cutting edge to the attacking trio, and have less tricky play, more running straight at the opposition.
CHARLIE SKILLEN
The Blues have already added to their trio of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Juan Mata - with Victor Moses waiting in the wings - by bringing loanee Kevin De Bruyne back into the fold and signing Andre Schurrle.
Now Willian, whose £32million arrival is unlikely to herald too much time on the sidelines, is another star to fit into the mix.
Jose Mourinho admitted some players would have to leave, and Moses looks an obvious candidate for a loan move.
De Bruyne may also find more action away from Stamford Bridge, while rumours persist over a shock departure for Juan Mata.
Willian could play behind the striker at Chelsea (whoever that ends up being) with Hazard and Mata either side and the three rotating, allowing Oscar to drop deeper into the midfield as part of a sitting two alongside Ramires or Frank Lampard.
Willian and Hazard - along with Schurrle - offer a more direct attacking approach than the scheming, creative influence of Mata and Oscar.
It may be that Mourinho wants Willian to add that incisive cutting edge to the attacking trio, and have less tricky play, more running straight at the opposition.
CHARLIE SKILLEN
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