Blues fear Mourinho
JOSE MOURINHO was finally confirmed as Inter
Milan’s new manager on Monday.
And he will immediately target at least FOUR Chelsea —
Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho.
Mourinho’s backroom team from Stamford Bridge will join him at the
San Siro, although his assistant will be Inter’s Academy boss
Giuseppe Baresi.
Mourinho’s appointment has been expected since
president Massimo Moratti axed Roberto Mancini a week ago. The
billionaire oil-magnate will hand Mourinho a £100m transfer kitty
in a bid to win the Champions League.
Other confirmed targets include Barcelona duo Samuel
Eto’o and Deco — who was Mourinho’s midfield general when they won
the Champions League with Porto. Deco’s Portugal team-mate, winger
Ricardo Quaresma is also in Mourinho’s sights.
The ex-Chelsea chief has been having intensive lessons
in Italian for weeks and is odds on to tell the local press he is
“Il Speciale Uno”.
Chelsea will fight Mourinho’s attempts to prise away
their stars — and are set to launch their own £15m bid to nab
Sporting Lisbon ace Joao Moutinho from under Manchester United’s
noses.
Owner Roman Abramovich is reluctant to pay a £20m
get-out clause in the Portugal star’s contract — although he might
have to if he impresses at Euro 2008.
United have been following Moutinho closely all season
and were considering whether to make a move this summer or wait one
more season.
But Chelsea’s interest could force their hand.
