JOSE MOURINHO sensationally turned down Roman Abramovich's offer to buy the world's top four superstars for Chelsea and told him: "You only need one star here — me!"David Beckham, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane and Andriy Shevchenko were all offered to Mourinho on a plate when he first arrived at Stamford Bridge — and he rejected the lot.
The startling revelation is made in a new book written by
Mourinho's close friend Luis Lourenco, with the full endorsement of the Chelsea boss.
It recalls an amazing early conversation between the owner and manager and offers a stunning insight into a relationship that grew more and more strained.
Abramovich said: "Now that I'm here I'm going to buy Ronaldinho. Would you like that?"
Mourinho replied with one word: "No."
The startled Blues owner then said: "I'll buy you Zinedine Zidane."
Once again the answer was a simple "No".
"David Beckham?" — "No."
Abramovich's patience began to weaken: "OK, here's a name you can't refuse. Tomorrow, for you, I'll make my big friend Andriy Shevchenko a Chelsea player."
Mourinho replied: "No, no and no."
An exasperated Abramovich told his new manager: "But you don't understand, Mr Mourinho. I'm talking about buying the biggest stars in world football."
To which Mourinho replied: "No, it's you who doesn't understand, Mr Abramovich. You only need one star at Chelsea — me."
The book, titled "Leadership — The Lessons of Mourinho", received the full co-operation of the Chelsea boss, who also wrote an introduction for it in.
In it, he says: "I hope that those who speak or make an opinion about me can now do so with a new basis."
The book quotes Mourinho extensively and underlines his determination to stamp his authority on Chelsea from the minute he walked through the door.
