Jose Mourinho once mocked Tottenham over Willian failure but now the Brazilian could finally make the move

Add as preferred source on Google

Tottenham and Chelsea do battle in the Premier League this weekend, with Jose Mourinho looking to get the better of his former club at Stamford Bridge. 

It also seems that Mourinho could be looking to reinvigorate an old transfer battle between the two sides, one he played a key role in back in 2013. 

Willian’s contract at Chelsea expires this summer. The Brazilian is being linked with several clubs. As reported by the Evening Standard, Tottenham are keeping tabs on the situation. A Chelsea contract extension also appears possible.  

Willian himself has also confirmed a desire to stay in London, regardless of his next move, in conversation with The Player’s Tribune this week. 

“If you ask my wife if she wants to leave London, she’ll say no. My daughters feel the same way…

“…So London is where I want to stay. This is where I have my family, my church. I want my daughters to grow up here.”

Of course, that would mean Mourinho bringing Willian to Tottenham, seven years after he snatched the Brazilian from the North London club’s grasp. 

As reported by The Guardian at the time, Tottenham were reportedly left livid by Chelsea’s late hijacking of their £32 million deal with Anzhi Makhachkala. The Brazilian had even undergone a medical at Spurs. 

Willian eventually did join Mourinho’s side. That came after owner Roman Abramovich was said to have personally called Anzhi owner Suleyman Kerimov. 

Daniel Levy was reportedly ‘incandescent’ with rage over the incident. He reportedly believed Chelsea only signed Willian to spite Spurs and then-manager Andre Villas-Boas. 

At the time, Mourinho appeared to have absolutely no sympathy for his future employers. As detailed by The Guardian, Mourinho spoke with a grin as he appeared to mock Tottenham. 

“That’s the danger of medicals before contracts.

“You have to do the medical before, but the best thing to do is to do the medical in secret. If the player is fine, you can sign him. If the player is not fine you don’t destroy his career.”

There would certainly be some poetic symmetry if Tottenham and Mourinho now took Willian away from Chelsea. 

It would also be a good piece of business for Tottenham, as Mourinho would trust Willian to be an important member of his attacking line-up.