'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The transfer window period at Chelsea Football Club has never been normal. While several deals often take place discreetly, few are made public. Chelsea is a club which often works in silence, as these deals are very hard to strike - a lot of factors have to fall in place for one to go through successfully. These factors and agreements can fall apart at any time, and this leads to the deal collapsing entirely. Such 'what-could-have-beens' often come to light long after, and this article looks at five legendary players who nearly joined Chelsea.
The Abramovich era - where no 'big name' is unattainable for Chelsea
Ever since Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea Football Club in 2003, money has never been an issue in the transfer market. While several incredible players such as Gianfranco Zola, Gianluca Vialli and Ruud Gullit donned Chelsea blue before Roman's takeover, the purchasing power of the club reached new highs under the Russian businessman. The 'splashing of cash' has brought success to Stamford Bridge, along with a host of legends. However, there are many legends - not only of their respective teams - but some of the biggest names in football history, who have disclosed that they nearly made the switch to London.
#5 Dani Alves
Dani Alves will, without a shadow of doubt, be remembered as one of the best full backs of the past decade, particularly for his excellent performances under Pep Guardiola at Barcelona. The right-back, who won a remarkable 23 trophies in his eight years at Camp Nou, has revealed that he was very close to joining Chelsea in 2007. Alves further went on to say that the excitement of being coached by Jose Mourinho was one of the major reasons he wanted to make the switch from Sevilla to London.
The Brazilian had already agreed personal terms, and Chelsea even put in a sizable bid to sign him up. The deal was at an advanced stage, with reliable journalists going as far as saying: 'Dani Alves will be a Chelsea player in the next few days.'
However, Jose Maria del Nido, the president of Sevilla, blocked the move in the eleventh hour, following which Chelsea pulled out of the deal. This forced Dani Alves to publicly express his dismay, claiming it was 'an opportunity of a lifetime.'
He spent the season at Sevilla before moving to Barcelona in the summer of 2008, a move which didn't turn out too badly either, considering Jose Mourinho parted ways with Chelsea just a few months after Dani Alves' claim that he wanted to be coached by the Portuguese mastermind.
#4 Andrea Pirlo
On the topic of world-class players who nearly joined Chelsea, another name on the list is Andrea Pirlo. The Italian maestro said in an interview in 2019 that he had the opportunity to follow Carlo Ancelotti to Stamford Bridge in 2009, but a move failed to materialize. In what was a rather difficult summer for AC Milan following Kaka's departure to Real Madrid, Chelsea reportedly tested the Italian side's resolve with a bid that included striker Claudio Pizarro going the other way.
Pirlo recollects the interest differently though, and jokingly said Chelsea rejected the chance to sign him owing to his age. This makes sense, considering the club's strict policy of not awarding long-term contracts to players over the age of 30. He eventually joined Juventus in 2011 when his contract at the Milan outfit expired, and even managed them in the 2020/21 season.
#3 Steven Gerrard
The keywords "Gerrard" and "Chelsea" often bring about a rather painful memory for Liverpool fans - his infamous slip on the ball at Anfield, which Chelsea striker Demba Ba collected and put away. However, fans from both sides seem to have forgotten the transfer saga in 2005, when Gerrard was ready to make the switch to Stamford Bridge. The English midfielder, fresh from leading his side to European glory against AC Milan in Istanbul, handed in a transfer request to join Jose Mourinho's Chelsea. Had the transfer gone through, the Gerrard vs Lampard debate would have had an entirely different outlook today!
The dream of watching Gerrard and Lampard together in a Chelsea kit was closer to becoming a reality than most people realize, with the boyhood Liverpool fan getting infuriated over the club's stagnation.
When the news of his transfer request became public, the red half of Merseyside was enraged - death threats, shirts being burnt, protests outside Melwood - you name it.
In what was a 'rollercoaster of emotions' as described by Gerrard himself in his autobiography, the midfielder decided to commit his stay at Anfield longer, which earned him laurels for his loyalty. The cost of this, however, was that his dream of a league title with the Reds never came to fruition, while Chelsea went on to win the league the following season.
#2 Neymar
Long before Neymar became the most expensive transfer of all time, Chelsea were reportedly very interested in acquiring the young Brazilian sensation's services. Wagner Ribeiro, who was the agent of Neymar at the time, has revealed that Chelsea were heavily scouting his client. The club were so serious that they sent out representatives to meet with Neymar's entourage during his first ever appearance for his national side, all the way back in 2010. Chelsea were also reportedly ready to pay a hefty fee to his parent club Santos.
However, Neymar rejected the London side's approach as he did not want to stay so far away from his mother and sister. He eventually joined Barcelona in 2013, before PSG paid out his enormous release clause in 2017 which made him the most expensive player of all time.
#1 Ronaldinho
For anyone who started following football in 2000s, Ronaldinho is a household name. Before the magic of Messi graced Camp Nou, the responsibility of lifting fans out of their seats was of the Brazilian attacking midfielder Ronaldinho. His tricks and flicks were known world over, and the ex-Barcelona player was widely regarded as one of the most gifted players of his generation.
However, come the summer of 2008, Barcelona president Joan Laporta stated that Ronaldinho needed 'a new challenge' to revive his career, which was plagued by injuries.
Although Ronaldinho opted to join Italian giants AC Milan, he had an offer on the table from the elite sides in the Premier League, with Chelsea being one of them. The west London outfit were also interested in signing him in 2007, and Roman Abramovich was also willing to pay his massive release clause, but Barcelona were not interested in selling.
