Cannavaro will be first 'London
galactico'
Duncan Castles
Chelsea have already made a bid for the World Cup winner to launch
phase one of the post-Mourinho era.
CHELSEA want to instigate the post-Jose Mourinho era with the
signing of the World and European Footballer of the Year Fabio
Cannavaro. The club has agreed in principle a salary of £3.4million
with the Italy defender and has been told by Real Madrids current
administration that it will not stand in the way of a summer
transfer.
Mourinho, who blocked a move for Cannavaro last summer, has no
involvement in the revived deal, as the club do not expect him to
be at Stamford Bridge when the 33-year-old World Cup-winning
captain arrives in the close season. By then, Chelsea intend to
have replaced their manager with the Internazionale coach, Roberto
Mancini, who is understood to have recommended his compatriot to
the club.
Cannavaro will be the first recruit of a London Galactico
transfer policy that Roman Abramovich has long wanted to enforce at
his club, but has seen stymied by Mourinhos reluctance to work
with older, more storied players. Chelseas billionaire owner
believes he can combine such individuals with carefully recruited
young talents in a squad instructed to play attractive and
successful football modelled on, but superior to, that of
Barcelona, the European Cup holders.
Leading that squad, Abramovich wants a young, personable coach, who
will both buy into the owners recruitment policy and manage the
playing resources without resort to the drama and confrontation
that has marked Mourinhos reign. Having failed to convince Didier
Deschamps to take on that role, Chelsea have placed Mancini at the
head of their recruitment list. An initial approach has been well
received by the Italian, who will be a free agent at the end of
this season and is stalling on a contract extension.
Cannavaro has also encouraged Chelseas advances. The centre-back
spent time with Abramovich on one of the Russians luxury yachts
last summer and discussed a transfer from Juventus to Stamford
Bridge before Chelsea withdrew from negotiations.
The player then signed a two-year contract with Real Madrid, but
has endured a traumatic six months in Spanish football as his club
has struggled and he has been the focus of press and supporter
criticism. Cannavaro has also been slow to adapt to life in Madrid,
is still living in a hotel, and is unhappy with the city as a place
to raise his three young children. Real have been similarly
disappointed with their high-profile recruit. Aware of Chelseas
approach, they are prepared to let Cannavaro leave at the end of
the season.
A source close to Mancini indicated that Inter were yet to put a
concrete figure in front of him in discussions over a new contract.
Last week he was quoted as saying: Nothing has been decided yet
about the contract with Inter, but this is not a formality. Id
really love to manage a Premiership side one day. Chelsea? It would
be fantastic.
Ironically, Inter were courting Mourinho as Mancinis replacement
in 2005, although the Portuguese is now more inclined to Real
Madrid or AC Milan as a venue for his turnaround management
techniques.
Having unsuccessfully gone to war with Abramovich over interference
in transfer policy and Andriy Shevchenkos limited contribution to
the team, Mourinho has now accepted that no money will be made
available to him in this transfer window to sign a central defender
of his choosing. Though Abramovich is currently covering the costs
of an $8m friendly tournament in Israel involving teams from the
home country, Russia, and Ukraine, and is ready to bankroll
Cannavaros transfer, the Russian has refused to meet Boltons £3m
asking price for Tal Ben Haim, whom Mourinho requested as defensive
cover. Instead, Chelseas focus now seems to be on life after
Mourinho. Concerted effort has been placed into sourcing a
replacement manager. First choice had been Guus Hiddink already
on the Abramovich payroll in the role of Russia coach but the
Dutchman has been persuaded against taking on the job by his
partner. Sevillas Juande Ramos was also sounded out, but has
neither the charisma nor the English-language skills Chelsea want.
Deschamps has been approached three times, but he enjoyed neither
London nor English football when he played for the club seven years
ago and prefers to remain with Juventus.
Though Marcello Lippi remains available after guiding Italy to the
World Cup, Abramovich considers him too old, while Barcelona coach
Frank Rijkaard is expected to take a years sabbatical from
football at the end of this season. Marco van Basten fits the
profile of a young coach, but is committed to Hollands Euro 2008
campaign and is not well liked by Abramovichs personal football
adviser, Piet de Visser, who publicly attacked his tactics at the
2006 World Cup.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,283-2569789,00.html
