CHELSEA transfer guru Piet de Visser revealed he must avoid discussing targets to the press or risk the wrath of owner Roman Abramovich.
The Dutch super scout, who discovered Neymar, Brazilian Ronaldo and Kevin De Bruyne, works as an adviser for Abramovich.
Piet de Visser, right, is the Dutch scout who discovered the likes of Neymar, Kevin De Bruyne and Ronaldo
De Visser revealed he must avoid discussing targets or risk the wrath of owner Roman AbramovichCredit: PA:Press Association
But he revealed the Chelsea owner has a strict policy of keeping transfer targets private.
De Visser told Voetbal International: “Abramovich does not want targets to be mentioned in the press.
“If I reveal Chelsea’s interest in a player, he’ll give me a penalty.
“That has happened to me before. I can survive a few penalties but I like to keep to the agreements.”
Chelsea shocked their fans after announcing the pre-transfer of Ajax’s Hakim Ziyech in February, with the Moroccan set to join the squad next season.
But it later emerged the Blues had actually been scouting the playmaker for three years before making an official move.
Similarly Chelsea signed American star Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund last January, though he joined the club in the summer.
The Blues had been linked with the winger, but they succeeded in keeping the agreement of the deal private with Liverpool at the time deemed closer to signing Pulisic.
De Visser, 85, has dedicated his life to football, and after a successful career as a player and manager in Holland, he was forced to retire early due to heart problems.
But the Dutchman’s ill-health could not thwart his involvement in the game, as he quickly turned his eye to scouting the best young talent throughout the world.
Russian billionaire Abramovich was so impressed with his abilty to unearth players he hired De Visser as his personal scout.
In fact, the likes of Arjen Robben, Alex and Thibaut Courtois may not have graced West London if it was not for the valued scout.
On the greatest talents he has discovered, De Visser said: “The best players I ever scouted – Ronaldo, Neymar, great player, David Luiz and Kevin De Bruyne.”
Chelsea shocked fans after announcing the pre-transfer of Ajax’s Hakim Ziyech in FebruaryCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
