Pirlo: I almost joined Chelsea

Posted Tuesday, November 20, 2012 by ESPN

Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo revealed that he was close to joining former coach Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea three seasons ago.

Pirlo will be hoping to help his side secure qualification in the next stage of the Champions League and push Chelsea - the club he almost joined three years ago - to the brink of elimination.

The Italian playmaker admitted that Ancelotti, who spotted him and signed him at AC Milan a decade ago, was a huge lure to move to Chelsea when the manager was still in charge of the Blues a few seasons ago - only to be rebuffed when the Rossoneri rejected the move.

"Actually, Milan wouldn't let me go," he told the Daily Mail.

"I have a very strong connection with Ancelotti so I was in touch with him when he went to Chelsea and I'm still in touch with him now he's at Paris Saint-Germain.

"I had already started negotiating with the people at Chelsea but then finally Milan didn't let me go. That's why I stayed.

"Certainly it would have been a different experience that I'd have liked, especially when I was 30 years old. So why not? But unfortunately it didn't happen."

Asked if there was still time for a Premier League move in the future, the 33-year-old added: "Maybe, who knows? I don't know what might happen. You never know. I still have two years left with Juventus, this season and next.

"I like English football a lot. There are plenty of very good teams. They are very aggressive so it's always entertaining to watch.

"It wouldn't be a problem for me fitting into that particular style because I've played with different players with different characteristics throughout my career."