JOSE MOURINHO sensationally turned down Roman Abramovich's
offer to buy the world's top four superstars for Chelsea and told
him: "You only need one star here me!"
David Beckham, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane and Andriy Shevchenko
were all offered to Mourinho on a plate when he first arrived at
Stamford Bridge and he rejected the lot.
The startling revelation is made in a new book written by
Mourinho's close friend Luis Lourenco, with the full endorsement of
the Chelsea boss.
It recalls an amazing early conversation between the owner and
manager and offers a stunning insight into a relationship that grew
more and more strained.
Abramovich said: "Now that I'm here I'm going to buy Ronaldinho.
Would you like that?"
Mourinho replied with one word: "No."
The startled Blues owner then said: "I'll buy you Zinedine
Zidane."
Once again the answer was a simple "No".
"David Beckham?" "No."
Abramovich's patience began to weaken: "OK, here's a name you can't
refuse. Tomorrow, for you, I'll make my big friend Andriy
Shevchenko a Chelsea player."
Mourinho replied: "No, no and no."
An exasperated Abramovich told his new manager: "But you don't
understand, Mr Mourinho. I'm talking about buying the biggest stars
in world football."
To which Mourinho replied: "No, it's you who doesn't understand, Mr
Abramovich. You only need one star at Chelsea me."
The book, titled "Leadership The Lessons of Mourinho", received
the full co-operation of the Chelsea boss, who also wrote an
introduction for it in.
In it, he says: "I hope that those who speak or make an opinion
about me can now do so with a new basis."
The book quotes Mourinho extensively and underlines his
determination to stamp his authority on Chelsea from the minute he
walked through the door.
