Chelsea get Ricardo Carvalho
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Article summary
Chelsea FC manager José Mourinho has signed defender Ricardo Carvalho from former club FC Porto.
Article body
'Three-year contract'
"Ricardo Carvalho tonight signed a three-year contract with Chelsea and will jet out with [chief executive] Peter Kenyon to join the squad in the United States tomorrow," the London club said on their website.
Reunited with Mourinho
The centre-back had been linked with a move to Real Madrid CF but has agreed a switch to Chelsea to link up with two former Porto colleagues, right-back Paulo Ferreira and coach José Mourinho. Under Mourinho, Ricardo Carvalho helped Porto win the 2002/03 UEFA Cup and the 2003/04 UEFA Champions League.
Desailly departure
The 26-year-old, who passed a medical at Stamford Bridge today, will fill the gap left by Marcel Desailly at Chelsea and is set to compete with William Gallas and John Terry, Desailly's replacement as club captain, for a regular place in the side. Ricardo Carvalho played a major part in his country's run to the UEFA EURO 2004™ final, proving an inspired replacement for Fernando Couto following Portugal's opening-day defeat by Greece.
