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#7 Jose Mourinho on Chelsea gazumping Tottenham’s deal to sign Willian, 2013
“The best thing you can do is do the medical in secret”
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In the summer of 2013, Chelsea were no strangers to transfer hijacks, having seen Manchester City steal Robinho from under their noses some five years prior. And so when it was announced that Brazilian winger Willian had undergone a medical at White Hart Lane for a proposed move from Anzhi Makhachkala to Tottenham, they moved very quickly.
Just two days after said medical, Willian was on his way to Stamford Bridge in a move worth around £32.5m. The key to his signing was said to have been the links between Chelsea’s owner Roman Abramovich and Anzhi’s owner Suleyman Kerimov, a fellow oligarch, but Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho couldn’t resist in rubbing some salt into Tottenham’s wounds.
“That’s the danger of medicals before contracts”, said Mourinho, “the best thing you can do is to do the medical in secret”. Tottenham’s chairman Daniel Levy was already said to be furious with the situation, but no doubt Mourinho’s sharp tongue made matters even worse.
Still, it was likely a valuable lesson for Tottenham, and they haven’t been as quick to announce a potential deal prior to the player being signed and sealed since.
