Jose Mourinho has taunted Arsenal by claiming he needed just 20 minutes to persuade Cesc Fabregas to join Chelsea because the former Gunners midfielder didn't want to return to his old club. Mourinho signed Fabregas from Barcelona for £27 million ($46 million) earlier in the close-season despite Arsenal having first option to take back the Spain star.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger reportedly didn't want to re-sign Fabregas because he was happy with Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and Mikel Arteta as main central midfielders. But Blues boss Mourinho couldn't resist the chance to tweak his rival as he insisted Fabregas had no interest in a reunion with the club he left to join Barcelona in 2011.
‘I spoke with him 20 minutes. I think he really wanted to come to us. As you know, Arsenal had an option where they could interfere, but I think he was not open to that, I think he was very, very much in our direction, so it was an easy job for me,’ said Mourinho. After finishing last season empty-handed, Mourinho has been quick to bolster his squad, spending a total of over £80 million on Fabregas, Spain striker Diego Costa, Brazilian defender Filipe Luis and teenage midfielder Mario Pasalic from Hajduk Split.