Brazil legend Roberto Carlos has revealed that he was “very close” to joining Chelsea in 2007, only for the transfer to collapse at the last minute.
The former defender was a free agent at the time, having parted company with Real Madrid after 11 trophy-laden years at Santiago Bernabeu.
“I had two proposals, Fenerbahce and Chelsea,” Carlos told Goal after the Challenge Heineken Legends. “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 (former chief executive) 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.”