According to The New York Times, it wasn’t just Barcelona who made a deadline day bid for Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, but Chelsea did too.
The Morocco international saw his profile raised by his performances at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he took his nation to the semi-finals and eventually fourth place.
The Viola were adamant he would not be sold in January and stood by that promise, even when offers came in during the final 48 hours of the market.
Barcelona tried to get Amrabat on loan with an option to buy and were rebuffed, but it is now revealed that Chelsea also had negotiations with Fiorentina for a similar deal.
It was an all-American affair, as Fiorentina are run by President Rocco Commisso and director Joe Barone, while Chelsea have been shattering transfer records under new owner Todd Boehly.
Indeed, the New York Times report suggests it was while Chelsea were working on the €121m move for Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez that Boehly was simultaneously on the phone trying to get Amrabat from Fiorentina.
He offered a loan with option to buy, similar to Barcelona’s proposal, and when told that was simply not acceptable behaviour on transfer deadline day, the “call and the negotiation ended abruptly.”
Chelsea have spent over €330m on eight players in the January transfer window, more than all the clubs in Serie A, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and La Liga combined.
One word. Disgusting.