Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos has revealed that he was ‘very close’ to joining Chelsea in 2007.

The Brazilian spent 11 seasons at the Bernabeu Stadium – winning four La Liga titles and lifting the Champions League on three occasions.

“I had two proposals, Fenerbahce and Chelsea,” Carlos told Goal.

“Chelsea didn’t work out so I signed for Fenerbahce.

“But, with Chelsea, it got very close. It was literally agreed and I just had to go there and sign the contract. It was just a week before I signed for Fenerbahce and I had been to Paris to meet both Roman Abramovich and (former chief executive) Peter Kenyon.

“Unfortunately, in the final moments something didn’t work out just before finalising, which happens a lot in football. There was an issue with the lawyer.

“It was all agreed, though, and I am 100 per cent sure I would have done well in the Premier League and it would have suited my characteristics.”

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Former United winger Nani has revealed he thought some of his new teammates, when he first arrived at OLd Trafford, didn’t like him – because he didn’t understand them.

The Portuguese then explained why he respected them so much, as he became an important member of Sir Alex Ferguson’s United side.

This is what Nani said on the UTD Podcast: “It was so important for me to have Giggs, Scholes, Rio Ferdinand, because they were there every time, pushing me and saying things to me. I was not understanding what they were doing. I thought they didn’t like me.

“They would just, every time, go mad at me because things didn’t go well but they saw a lot of potential in me in training and were believing a lot in me. After two or three years, I started realising a lot. It’s one thing to listen but you try to do what they say.

“Like I said, we fought, we disagreed on the field but it was the strongest team I’ve been in. We knew the times to play together, to respect each other. When we had to enjoy it together as well.”

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