Shanghai SIPG striker Hulk has admitted that Chelsea were once interested in his services – but that he had no idea until after the fact.
The Brazilian, now 33, has spent the last four years in China after a similarly lengthy stint at Zenit Saint Petersburg. Having tasted domestic success in Russia, Hulk celebrated ending Guangzhou Evergrande's monopoly of the Chinese Super League in 2018.
His €60 million move to Zenit in 2012 came as something of a surprise after he had established himself as one of Europe’s hottest properties at Porto – but Hulk says a Premier League switch was never truly forthcoming.
SUMMER SALE Just £9.99 for the first six months with a FourFourTwo subscription
“In my first season at Porto, I started well and remember hearing some talk about Manchester United, but I never received anything concrete on that,” he admits in the July 2020 issue of FFT – a Brazil special out in shops now and available to order online with free delivery.
“At the time, I was too young and left those things for other people to sort out, so I didn’t get to know which offers arrived. Only after I signed for Zenit was I told Chelsea had been interested, but I can’t tell you how serious they were.
“Naturally it felt a bit strange not hearing any news regarding a potential transfer, because you always see players from the Portuguese league going to teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid, and also the Premier League. I’d been the best player in Portugal in three different seasons, too.”
NOW READ...
QUIZ! Can you get 60 correct answers in our big six quiz?
GUIDE Premier League live streams: How to watch every game on this week
Get the July 2020 issue of FourFourTwo now: a Brazil special featuring Rivelino, Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos, Firmino’s rise, Robinho’s fall, Socrates at Garforth, Marta’s amazing story and more!
‘Scoring in a World Cup is like winning the title – can you imagine millions of people celebrating something you did? It’s insane and made me very proud’: Brazil legend explains how much 2002 goal meant to him
'He already had the ability but didn’t use it because he was afraid to shoot – I said, "You’re a player who has to decide games – you have to take risks, mate"': Liverpool star was forced to become confident by team-mates
