“I said yes” – Chelsea transfer was dangled in front of Lille player, he was keen for chance

French champions Lille will travel to England on Monday, ahead of their Champions League match against Chelsea.

It’s a huge match for the French side, and a chance for them to forget their poor Ligue 1 season for a while. Despite winning the title last season, Lille currently find themselves in 10th position and a long way from the successes of the last campaign.

Getting through to the knockout stages of the Champions League is a bright point, and now they face Chelsea, the holders of the premier European title.

There’s a lot of excitement in the media around the Ligue 1 side, and Sunday’s edition of L’Equipe has an interview with Lille captain Jose Fonte.

The Portuguese defender has previously played for Crystal Palace, Southampton and West Ham, so knows English football well.

There could have been another English club on his CV… Chelsea.

As part of the chat with L’Equipe, the 38-year-old revealed he’d had a Blues transfer dangled in front of him as a youngster, telling the French newspaper: “I did a trial when I was 19, when I was playing in Felgueiras (Portuguese D2). I was offered to train at Chelsea as a reserve. Obviously, I said yes. But it didn’t go well. At the time, it was Mourinho, the coach, I think I will train with him and the first team. And when I arrive, I train with the reserves of the reserves, with 16-year-olds… I stayed for a week before returning to Portugal.”