The Portuguese coach wants to bring Zanetti to west London.
In a shock move Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is hoping to bring Inter Milan veteran Javier Zanetti to Stamford Bridge in the summer.
The 40-year-old has played for Inter for an astonishing 19 years since first arriving at the San Siro in 1995 and has played 795 times for the Italians since.
Yet Zanetti’s current contract expires in the summer and having worked with the Argentine for two years between 2010 and 2012, Mourinho wants to snap up the experienced defender.
The right-back has previously said that he wants to stay with the Nerazzurri for life, even after the South American has retired.
Yet the deal Mourinho is offering in west London would include a one-year contract and then the option to become the 51-year-old’s transfer market strategist after that.
Zanetti wants to beat Paolo Maldini’s Serie A record – and is currently 38 appearances short – but due to an Achilles injury that has kept the former Argentina international out of action since November, this is unlikely to happen.
The Argentinian was Mourinho’s captain when they won the treble of Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League in 2010.
The duo have a good working relationship and despite Zanetti’s love of Inter, he may well be swayed with a swansong in England.
Head coach Walter Mazzarri does not see the player in his plans for the club and Mourinho wants to capitalise and begin talks with president Erick Thohir as soon as possible.
Check out the 10 worst Chelsea flops of the Premier League era.
Read more Chelsea transfer news.
COMMENTS