Deco confirms Blues interest

Midfielder considers Chelsea option

By Graeme Bailey & Lucas Brown   Last updated: 16th June 2008

Deco confirms Blues interest

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Portugal star Deco has confirmed Chelsea are interested in signing him but insisted he had not talked with Luiz Felipe Scolari about a move to Stamford Bridge.

The Brazilian-born playmaker has been strongly linked with The Blues for a number of years.

Jose Mourinho tried and failed to take him to Chelsea four-years ago, but now with Barcelona ready to let him leave, Scolari looks to have made the 30-year-old one of his top transfer targets.

"There is interest from Chelsea, which is normal," he told Marca.

"But Scolari has not told me anything, we are now just talking to the club."

Mourinho, now at Internazionale, is also believed to be keen to working with him again after their time together at Porto and Deco admits he has a number of options.

"Of course, there are other possibilities," he added.

Backing the boss

Meanwhile, Deco has been quick to back Scolari - who has been criticised in some sections of the Portuguese press for revealing his deal to take charge at Chelsea.

"I believe Scolari was totally honest throughout all this process," he told the Daily Express.

"He was at the end of his contract with Portugal, and people have to understand that he has to make the right decisions for his career.

"I was sad when he told us he was going because it means we are losing a man and a coach who was primarily responsible for the way we have recovered confidence as a squad and a team.

"He is the man responsible for the spirit and life we have inside this team and for the fantastic sense of unity we have. But above all I was happy for him and I am certain that he will have a lot of success at Chelsea."

Nothing wrong

Deco insisted that Scolari has done nothing wrong by declaring he would be leaving Portugal before the end of Euro 2008.

"People also have to understand that because Scolari always speaks honestly that what he says he feels for Portugal is truly in his heart," he continued.

"Anybody who doubts this or uses this to criticise his decision is doing so out of malice.

"The dream of Scolari is to conquer something important with Portugal.

"We are all with him and now we are even more motivated to reach our objective, which is to be champions of Europe."