Mourinho denies offering Zanetti deal at Chelsea

Manager says he has no plans to bring Inter Milan star on a player-coaching deal.

Javier Zanetti was an integral part of the Inter Milan side that won the Uefa Champions League in 2010. Fadi Al Assaad / Reuters
Powered by automated translation

Jose Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, quashed reports the English Premier League giants had offered Inter Milan icon Javier Zanetti a player-coaching deal.

Several media outlets last week cited a report on www.insidefutbol.com which said Mourinho, who steered Inter to an historic Champions League, league title and Cup treble in 2010, wanted to bring the veteran defender to the club.

In an interview with Italian television after Wednesday’s 1-1 Champions League draw away to Galatasaray, Mourinho said: “It’s not true. He’s at Inter and always will be.”

Zanetti last week poured cold water on the report, saying: “Honestly, I have a great rapport with Mourinho. We hear from each other frequently, but we’ve never discussed these things.

“I’ve always stressed that this club (Inter) is my life and my home. And it’s my desire to stay here. I don’t need to add anything else.”

Zanetti has made only five league appearances this season since returning from a long injury lay-off following the rupture of his Achilles tendon in April 2013.

sports@thenational.ae

Follow our sports coverage on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE