Brazil legend, Roberto Carlos, opens up about the offers he received after Real Madrid and states he was quite close to joining Chelsea in 2007, however, the move collapsed at the last moment.
The former defender was a free agent at that moment, after parting company with Real Madrid following 11 trophy-laden years in Santiago Bernabeu.
“I had two suggestions, Fenerbahce and Chelsea,” Carlos told Goal following the Challenge Heineken Legends.”Chelsea did not work out so that I signed up for Fenerbahce.”
“However, with Chelsea, it got really close. It had literally consented and that I simply had to go there and sign the contract.
“It was only a week until I signed up for Fenerbahce and I’d been to Paris to fulfill the two Roman Abramovich and (former chief executive) Peter Kenyon.
“Regrettably, in the last minutes, something did not work out before finalising, which occurs a good deal in football. There was a problem with the attorney.”
“It was agreed, however, and I’m 100 percent sure I’d have done nicely in the Premier League and it might have satisfied my attributes.”
Carlos also disclosed he could have finished up in England as a 22-year-old.
“I was playing Brazil with Palmeiras if Aston Villa arrived for me in 1995 but they could not manage the bargain,” he clarified. “Then, I moved to Inter.”
Carlos, of course, endured a challenging period in Italy but went on to prove himself as one of the best left-backs of time, after linking Madrid in 1997.
He won three Champions Leagues and four Liga titles using the Blancos, while he also raised the World Cup in 2002.
“Vinicius Junior and Rodrigo of Real Madrid would be the near future, combined with Flamengo’s Gerson,” he announced. “All these are the men I’m most enthusiastic about.
“These are excellent players and they’ll be quite profitable.”
In terms of his own place, Carlos considers that compatriot Marcelo is currently the reference point for many aspiring left-backs.
“I feel as though that I had been a good example to follow what I attained, like what Marcelo is performing in Real Madrid,” he contended. “People will accompany Marcelo as I followed me.”
