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      Willian says snubbing Tottenham for Chelsea was ‘best decision of my career’ as he recalls last-minute transfer hijack

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      WILLIAN has called his decision to snub a move to Tottenham as the “best decision of my career”.In the summer 2013 the Brazilian was completing a medical at Spurs and on the verge of signing for them when a call came in from Chelsea.
      When Willian became aware of Chelsea’s interest they were the only optionCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      The Brazilian is now back in the Premier League with FulhamCredit: Getty
      In an interview with The Athletic he remembers: “Chelsea came on the day I was going to sign the contract with Spurs. I was at Tottenham’s training ground to finalise the deal when the call came.
      “I said, ‘OK, I want to go there!’”
      The Brazil international moved to Stamford Bridge from Anzhi Makhachkala for a fee in the region of £30million on a five-year deal.
      Having already left Tottenham in the lurch, the skilful winger would add salt to Daniel Levy and Spurs’ wounds when he set up John Terry’s goal in a 2-0 victory over them in the 2015 EFL Cup final.
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      The 34-year-old enjoyed a fruitful spell at Stamford Bridge picking up five major honours, two of which were Premier League titles.
      It’s a time he recounts with joy: “I only wanted to go there. It was the best decision of my career!”
      Willian swapped south-west London for the red side of the capital when he joined Arsenal in 2020.
      But his time with the Gunners was fruitless and faltering, it was a complete contrast to his time at Chelsea and one goal in 37 games summarised that.
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      Willian cites the lack of connection with the club – with his time there coinciding with team’s playing behind closed doors – as a possible reason for his struggles.
      He said: “I have to feel good, to feel motivated to go to training. I wasn’t having that there so I decided to leave.
      “I didn’t see Arsenal fans. Maybe I needed to feel the buzz of the crowd, it was something I missed.”
      His Arsenal career was cut short after a single season, but after a period in Brazil, Willian made a shock return to London on deadline day to sign with newly promoted Fulham.   More

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      Jude Bellingham at centre of massive £130m summer transfer battle with Man Utd and Chelsea among FIVE clubs interested

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      CHELSEA and Manchester United are among FIVE European clubs interested in signing Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham this summer, according to reports.Bellingham, 19, joined Borussia Dortmund in a £25million transfer from Birmingham City two years ago.
      Borussia Dortmund want at least £130m for BellinghamCredit: Getty
      He snubbed Man Utd in favour of the move to Germany, but the Red Devils have refused to give up in their pursuit of the teen.
      According to The Athletic, United are in a transfer race along with four other clubs.
      Premier League giants Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool are also eager to sign Bellingham while Real Madrid retain a strong interest.
      But, Borussia Dortmund are demanding at least £130m for the young star which would make him the most expensive English player of all-time – surpassing Jack Grealish and his £100m move to Man City last year.
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      Bellingham made his 100th appearance for Dortmund last week.
      Since arriving at Signal Iduna Park he’s scored 13 goals and assisted 18, making him one of the club’s most valuable players.
      His consistent performances have also seen him earn a regular spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
      Last year Bellingham became the youngest-ever English player to appear at a major tournament when he made a substitute appearance against Croatia during Euro 2020.
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      And now he could be given the opportunity to shine on the World stage as England prepare for the World Cup in November.
      Bellingham was given another international call-up last week ahead of England’s upcoming Nations League fixtures against Italy and Germany. More

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      Thomas Tuchel still in London as ex-Chelsea manager poses with fan in street amid Bayern Munich links

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      THOMAS TUCHEL is still in London despite being axed by Chelsea a fortnight ago.New Blues owner Todd Boehly showed he is just as ruthless as predecessor Roman Abramovich after wielding the axe on the German gaffer.
      Thomas Tuchel was spotted in London yesterday despite being sacked by Chelsea a fortnight agoCredit: Instagram @karimzahlann
      Following a poor start to the Premier League campaign, a Champions League defeat at Dinamo Zagreb a fortnight ago proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
      Graham Potter was quickly named as Tuchel’s replacement at Stamford Bridge but the latter is already being linked with a fast return to the dug-out with Bayern Munich.
      However, for the time being at least, the 49-year-old seems happy to remain living in the capital after a photo emerged of him posing with a supporter yesterday.
      An Instagram account named @KarimZahlann shared the photo, with several other Chelsea accounts claiming that the individual was a Blues fan and thanked him for his work at the club before asking for a snap.
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      Speculation is mounting that former Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain boss Tuchel could be set to replace Bayern Munich’s Julien Nagelsmann.
      The German champions have suffered a bizarre run of form that sees them go into the international break fifth in the Bundesliga table, five points off the top.

      Their wobble descended into a major blip as they fell to a shock defeat at FC Augsburg over the weekend to extend their winless run in the top-flight to four matches.
      Tuchel has impressed across Europe since leaving Dortmund in 2017.
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      And his crowning achievement was undoubtedly taking over at the Blues and winning the Champions League within his first six months in the job.
      But results this season went south as the “devastated” Tuchel was given his marching orders.
      Now he is on the lookout for another opportunity at the top level – which could add extra-pressure on the already struggling Nagelsmann. More

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      ‘Dumbfounded and disappointed’ – Pulisic slams Tuchel over snubbing and reveals he scored after ignoring ex-Chelsea boss

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      CHRISTIAN PULISIC has taken aim at his former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.The American forward’s dad liked a tweet ripping into the German coach amid speculation over his son’s future as tension between the pair mounted towards the end of the transfer window.
      Christian Pulisic has slammed former Chelsea boss Thomas TuchelCredit: Reuters
      The German coach was surprisingly sacked by the Blues a fortnight agoCredit: Alamy
      The 24-year-old star struggled for regular match action under Tuchel, who was sacked a fortnight ago by the Blues.
      Pulisic scored in last year’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid to earn Chelsea a 1-1 draw in Spain.
      However, he was named on the bench for the return leg at Stamford Bridge, a decision that he says left him “dumbfounded and very disappointed” after he had been promised that he would start.
      Pulisic, who would go on to win the competition with the Blues that season, wrote in his upcoming book ‘Christian Pulisic: My Journey So Far’: “What happened before that game was hugely disappointing for me.
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      “l’d had a really good first leg performance and our following match was against Fulham in the league. Tuchel told me that he was resting me for the second leg and as a result I didn’t play a single minute in the Fulham game.
      “Then on match day of the second semi, Tuchel tells me he’s changed his mind and he’s going with Kai [Havertz].

      “I honestly was dumbfounded and very disappointed. I thought that I’d earned a start and, most importantly, he had assured me previously I was going to start.”
      Pulisic previously worked with Tuchel at Borussia Dortmund but was continually linked with a move away from Chelsea due to a lack of action during their time together in West London.
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      And adding further insight into their strained relationship, he also revealed how his goal against Madrid came after he ignored Tuchel’s instructions.
      He added: “As I take off on the run, I hear Thomas Tuchel yelling from the sideline, ‘Christian, stay in the pocket, don’t make the run!’ 
      “But I just had the feeling I’d find the space and get on the end of the pass, so I continued the run.”
      Pulisic will now be hoping for better luck and a run of games under new boss Graham Potter after a transfer move failed to materialise over the summer. More

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      Chelsea ‘turn to Leeds director Victor Orta and Bayer Leverkusen chief in transfer guru hunt’ after Freund rejection

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      CHELSEA have reportedly turned their attention to bringing in Leeds United’s Victor Orta or Bayer Leverkusen’s Tim Steidten  as new sporting director.Christoph Freund has confirmed that he has snubbed the Stamford Bridge club to stay at RB Salzburg.
      Chelsea are plotting a move for Leeds chief Victor OrtaCredit: Getty
      Bayer Leverkusen’s Tim Steidten is another targetCredit: Getty
      He revealed last night that he was “proud” to hold talks with the Blues about a similar role but claimed leaving his Austrian club was “out of the question”.
      Chelsea owner Todd Boehly wants to have a sporting director in place before the January transfer window.
      The American had to conduct the Blues’ summer business by himself but wants an expert to work alongside new manager Graham Potter.
      Now a fresh report from The Telegraph states he has two other targets in mind.
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      They claim that “Steidten is among those Chelsea are set to talk to” about the vacant role.
      While “the merits of Leeds director of football Orta are understood to have been discussed” by Blues chiefs “along with others” being considered.
      Chelsea’s new owners dealt with both Steidten and Orta during the summer transfer window.
      Winger Callum Hudson-Odoi left West London to join Leverkusen on loan while Chelsea also tried to thrash out a deal with Leeds for Raphinha, who ultimately opted to sign for Barcelona instead.
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      Orta also has experience of working elsewhere in England after a stint at Middlesbrough prior to his move to Leeds in 2017.
      PSG chief Luis Campos is also believed to be on Boehly’s shortlist with the club reportedly prepared to offer him a staggering £135,000 a week.
      Former Liverpool transfer chief Michael Edwards was also on the Blues’ radar in the summer but it appears Boehly is starting to look elsewhere. More

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      Chelsea SACK senior exec Damian Willoughby TWO WEEKS into job amid sexual harassment allegations as X-rated texts leaked

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      CHELSEA have sacked their commercial director amid claims of sexual harassment and X-rated tweets – just two week after appointing him.The Blues confirmed Damian Willoughby’s dismissal after football finance agent Catalina Kim provided “evidence of inappropriate messages”.
      Damian Willoughby has been been booted out by Chelsea over text allegations after a brief second period at the clubCredit: Linkedin
      Catalina Kim alerted Chelsea to her concerns about new senior executive Damian Willoughby and he has now been sackedCredit: Twitter
      The Telegraph say Kim produced texts showing that Willoughby asked if she was naked and introduced sex as a subject, whilst he also posted an alleged sexually-explicit video.
      She also said he suggested he would arrange a meeting with Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano if she agreed to be “naughty”.
      Chelsea dismissed Willoughby after Kim alerted the club’s president of business Tom Glick about conduct dating back to before he was brought in as a senior executive earlier in September.
      The Blues told the Telegraph: “Chelsea Football Club confirms that it has terminated Commercial Director Damian Willoughby’s employment with immediate effect.
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      “Evidence of inappropriate messages sent by Mr Willoughby, prior to his appointment at Chelsea FC earlier this month, has recently been provided to and investigated by the Club.
      “While they were sent prior to his employment at the Club, such behaviour runs absolutely counter to the workplace environment and corporate culture being established by the Club’s new ownership.“
      Kim is chief executive of C&P Sports Group and has set up multi-million pound deals between European giants like champions City and Spurs.
      The Telegraph say they have seen her text exchanges with Willoughby, showing she repeatedly rebuffed him and reminded him he is married.
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      He first worked at Stamford Bridge between 2007 and 2010 but reportedly first met Kim in 2015 when he was involved with Man City.
      Then, this summer, she was linked to bids to buy Chelsea whereas he was keen on supporting a rival consortium – before Todd Boehly won the takeover battle.
      Glick informed her Willoughby was Chelsea’s new commercial director and the three of them met on September 1. 
      Afterwards Kim raised concerns with Glick – at first about his efforts to raise investment for a bid to buy Chelsea but then over his previous conduct.
      It’s understood she had not previously spoken out about his conduct as she had hoped not to work with him again.
      Kim earlier told The Telegraph: “I can confirm that I made a complaint to Tom Glick about the general behaviour of Damian Willoughby over two years, including his recent threatening phone call to me.
      “I strongly believe this is not a work environment and corporate culture that any Premier League club would tolerate.”
      Willoughby’s lawyers declined to comment, The Telegraph reported. More

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      ‘It’s true Chelsea wanted me.. I’m best at Salzburg’ – Transfer guru Christoph Freund CONFIRMS he has snubbed Blues

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      TRANSFER guru Christoph Freund has confirmed he’s snubbed Chelsea to stay at RB Salzburg.The sporting director says he was “proud” to hold talks with the Blues about a similar role but claimed leaving his Austrian club was “out of the question”.
      Christoph Freund says is happy to stay at RB Salzburg after snubbing ChelseaCredit: Getty
      Salzburg CEO Stephan Reiter also stated that 45-year-old Freund, who discovered Erling Haaland and Sadio Mane, would not depart.
      Freund said: “Yes, it’s true that Chelsea wanted me and we had talks.
      “When such a big club asks it not only honours me and the work of Salzburg.
      “It is of course a circumstance that entails personal considerations. 
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      “But I’ve come to the conclusion I’m in the best hands with Salzburg and that a change is out of the question for me.”
      But he admitted: “I was thinking about the Chelsea director job as I have been proud of the interest shown by such a top club.”
      Reiter said: “Of course Freund informed me about Chelsea and we exchanged ideas on a personal level and had good conversations but the fact is he will remain our sporting director.”
      He earlier told Sky Sports: “I can definitely rule that out.
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      “Neither Chelsea nor Christoph Freund spoke to me or the club management about something like that.
      “Christoph recently signed a contract with us until 2026, which applies to him as well as to players, managers or coaches.”
      Before confirming he was staying, Freund too had hinted he was unlikely to go.
      He said: “Chelsea is a huge club in transition.
      “I can’t say exactly what will happen in the next few weeks and months. You should never rule anything out in football and Chelsea are such a huge club.
      “But I’m sports director in Salzburg and I really enjoy it.”
      It is a big blow for Chelsea, but according to Fabrizio Romano they will keep trying for Freund before moving on to other targets.
      Owner Boehly wants to have a sporting director in place before the January transfer window.
      The American had to conduct the Blues’ summer business by himself but wants an expert to work alongside new manager Graham Potter.
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      PSG chief Luis Campos is on his shortlist with the club reportedly prepared to offer him a staggering £135,000 a week.
      Former Liverpool transfer chief Michael Edwards was also on the Blues’ radar in the summer but it appears Boehly is starting to look elsewhere. More

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      Chelsea ‘courted Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni for years’ before Granovskaia opted for flop Saul Niguez

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      Chelsea’s recruitment department is under the spotlight after it was claimed they passed up the chance to sign French midfield dynamo Aurelien Tchouameni.In the summer of 2021, then Blues boss Thomas Tuchel wanted a midfielder to bolster a squad which had just won the Champions League.
      Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni was superb in 2-1 weekend derby over AtleticoCredit: Getty
      Football London reports that YEARS of background work had already gone into cultivating a relationship with Tchouameni,who at that time still played for Monaco.
      However, according to the Telegraph, when it was put to senior figures at the club such as Marina Granovskaia to make a decision on the transfer – they decided a loan deal for Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez was the better option.
      The Spanish international utterly flopped at Stamford Bridge last season, while Real Madrid moved to snap up Tchouameni this summer in a deal that could eventually cost £87million.
      However that already looks like snip as the 22-year-old powerhouse is gaining reputation as one of the world’s best players in his position.
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      His performances were one of the reasons Madrid were happy to let Casemiro go to Manchester United.
      Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti praised his star after the weekend win over city rivals Atletico.
      He said: “We’re not surprised by Tchouameni.
      “He’s a spectacular player. It was difficult at first, but you can tell he feels very good.
      “In training, you can see that. He plays well in defence and in attack.I’m happy with him and I hope he continues to improve.”
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      Chelsea splashed out £259.1 this summer under new owner Todd Boehly.
      And the first thing the American might want to look at is whether his recruitment department are guilty of letting superstarTchouameni be the one that got away. More