Jose Mourinho has ruled out a multi-million pound summer swoop for Valencia's David Villa, claiming that Chelsea's days of 'spending silly money' are now firmly in the past.
The Blues have been frequently linked with the striker, who will be aiming to orchestrate their downfall in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League quarter final meeting at Stamford Bridge.
Villa has an astronomical escape clause in his contract to the value of €150million (£101million), a price so prohibitive that only a few clubs across Europe could even come close to his asking price.
Chelsea were linked with a £45million bid for the Spanish international earlier in the season, but Mourinho has underlined that the era of lavish spending at Stamford Bridge has now given way to a more pragmatic approach.
The Portuguese boss previously revealed the club cannot afford Porto defender Pepe - a comment interpreted as highlighting a rift with Blues owner Roman Abramovich - and now it appears as though Villa has had his name struck off the English champions' wish-list as well.
"He [Villa] is a great player and yes, I think he could play in a big team, but Chelsea don't want to sign him," Mourinho told a press conference.
"We have got two excellent forwards as things stand. Also, from what I hear about the price, they are asking silly money for him.
"As you see all over the game these days, we hear daft prices mentioned for players.
"I can tell you that here at Chelsea it is all over - spending silly money."
ErikaChioBu
dey dun wan splash or no $$ to splash??
4getmenot
looks like sugar daddy has hidden the keys to the cash box..
glacer
looks like roman really angry with mourinho, a club with two bosses, lmao
used
as if villa will want to come. he will be competing with drogba, sheva and kalou. first team football wont be guaranteed.