How Chelsea were close to appointing Luciano Spalletti

Carlo Garganese

• 18 Dec 2022 15:00 GMT
• 3 min read

Chelsea were close to appointing Luciano Spalletti as manager in the summer of 2009.

Super agent Federico Pastorello has revealed that he held discussions with former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich about bringing Spalletti to Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2009-10 season.

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However, in the end Abramovich decided to hire another Italian coach in Carlo Ancelotti instead.

The decision proved to be a good one as Ancelotti won the Premier League with Chelsea in his first season in England.

What did Pastorello say about Spalletti

“I always had a weakness for Spalletti, he is a great coach,” Pastorello told Tuttomercatoweb..

“Along with Moreno Roggi, who at the time was his agent, we met with Chelsea and their President Abramovich. Then they decided to go for a different Italian coach and chose Carlo Ancelotti.

“However, the Blues really liked the fantastic football that he had shown previously, especially at Roma. I consider him one of the best tacticians in Europe.”

Whilst Ancelotti took the job at Chelsea, Spalletti waited a few months longer before being appointed as manager of Zenit St Petersburg.

Spalletti won two Russian Premier Leagues during five years in Russia before returning to Italy, first with Roma again and then with Inter.

He is currently the coach of Napoli, who he took over in the summer of 2021.

Napoli are currently enjoying a magnificent season and are top of Serie A by eight points going into the new year.

They also are through to the last-16 of the Champions League after topping a group featuring Liverpool, who they beat 4-1 at home.