Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala says he would prefer a move to Chelsea over Manchester City this summer.
Mangala, who will join up with the rest of France's World Cup squad this week, confirmed that City approached Porto about signing him in the January transfer window.
"I have told my agent that I don't want to know anything about the transfer window until the end of the World Cup. There have been discussions with Mancester City, but the clubs did not reach an agreement," Mangala told beIN SPORTS.
"City or Chelsea? Chelsea, because it is London."
City failed with bids to sign Mangala and his Porto team-mate Fernando, who is out of contract this summer, in the last trading window.
The bids were complicated by the same third-party issue, with both players part-owned by Porto and a company connected to Mendes.
While Mangala, who has two international caps, admitted England would be an attractive destination, the centre-back acknowledged ambition would be the overriding factor in deciding his next career step.
"It is true that I love the Premier League because it is a spectacular league," Mangala explained. "Every player wants to play in the biggest clubs. I am an ambitious player and the team that can help me win trophies is the one that interests me."
No thanks. Terry, Cahill, Kalas and Zouma will do the job, considering that David Luiz is going out. And players from Porto are often way too expensive.
Chucksea
11 years ago
Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala says he would prefer a move to Chelsea over Manchester City this summer.
Mangala, who will join up with the rest of France's World Cup squad this week, confirmed that City approached Porto about signing him in the January transfer window.
However, with doubts surrounding the Chelsea future of David Luiz, Mangala is hoping to join Jose Mourinho, with whom he shares an agent in Jorge Mendes, at Stamford Bridge.
"I have told my agent that I don't want to know anything about the transfer window until the end of the World Cup. There have been discussions with Mancester City, but the clubs did not reach an agreement," Mangala told beIN SPORTS.
"City or Chelsea? Chelsea, because it is London."
City failed with bids to sign Mangala and his Porto team-mate Fernando, who is out of contract this summer, in the last trading window.
The bids were complicated by the same third-party issue, with both players part-owned by Porto and a company connected to Mendes.
While Mangala, who has two international caps, admitted England would be an attractive destination, the centre-back acknowledged ambition would be the overriding factor in deciding his next career step.
"It is true that I love the Premier League because it is a spectacular league," Mangala explained. "Every player wants to play in the biggest clubs. I am an ambitious player and the team that can help me win trophies is the one that interests me."