{"id":3743,"date":"2026-09-08T13:27:21","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T13:27:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=3743"},"modified":"2026-09-08T13:27:21","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T13:27:21","slug":"hulk-reveals-chelsea-almost-signed-european-championship-winner-but-ran-out-of-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=3743","title":{"rendered":"Hulk reveals Chelsea almost signed European Championship winner but ran out of time"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Former Brazilian forward Hulk has revealed that Chelsea ran out of time in the 2011 summer transfer window to sign his then-Porto teammate Joao Moutinho.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Blues were only 12 months removed from a title-winning side under Carlo Ancelotti, and were clearly looking to deliver in the transfer market for new manager Andre Villas-Boas<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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However, they ended up spending their funds on players for the future. Juan Mata made an instant impact, but we wouldn\u2019t see the best of Thibaut Courtois, Kevin de Bruyne or Romelu Lukaku for a number of years.<\/p>\n

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Chelsea missed out on signing Joao Moutinho in 2011<\/h2>\n

Joao Moutinho had just played a starring role in a treble-winning season for Porto under Villas-Boas, and Hulk has revealed that the young manager was looking to bring him with him to Stamford Bridge<\/a>.<\/p>\n

He told RomarioTV<\/a> that Chelsea<\/a> made an effort to sign Moutinho, however ran out of time before the European transfer window closed and they couldn\u2019t secure the deal.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cAnd in 2011, the 2010\/11 season, we won the Europa League, we Portuguese players were unbeaten, we had that spectacular season.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI think Villas-Boas went to Tottenham or Chelsea \u2014 I think it was Chelsea \u2014 and tried to take Jo\u00e3o Moutinho and James Rodr\u00edguez, if I remember correctly. No, Jo\u00e3o Moutinho and \u00c1lvaro Pereira. I think it was those two.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey couldn\u2019t sign them. And then the European transfer window closed, and at that point the only offer I had was from Russia The European window had closed, but Russia still had another week or so.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moutinho went on to enjoy the rest of a strong stint at Porto, before making a move to Monaco.<\/p>\n

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Let\u2019s settle this, Chelsea are better off with Reece James at right-back\u2026 \ud83e\udd14<\/h3>\n

Do you prefer James in midfield or at right-back \u2013 and why?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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It was while he was playing for the Ligue 1 side that he was part of Portugal\u2019s 2016 European Championship-winning side.<\/p>\n

The midfielder would end up playing in the Premier League for Wolves, although this came in the latter stages of his career when he was past his prime.<\/p>\n

A move to Chelsea 15 years ago would have allowed him the chance to learn what playing in England takes from the likes of Frank Lampard<\/a>, but also the opportunity to enjoy a prolonged career in the league.<\/p>\n

Villas-Boas\u2019 time at Chelsea did not work out. He was gone midway through his first campaign in charge, and the Blues finished the season winning the Champions League under Roberto di Matteo.<\/p>\n

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