I Was Very Close To Joining Chelsea – Roberto Carlos

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I Was Very Close To Joining Chelsea – Roberto Carlos

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.”

Carlos also revealed that he could even have ended up in England as a 22-year-old.