Jose Mourinho has had plenty of trusted generals at each club he’s managed over the years, and one of those could join him at Chelsea this summer.
40-year-old Argentine defender Javier Zanetti, who has played for Serie A side Inter Milan for almost two decades, has been linked with a one-year playing deal at Stamford Bridge and the experienced stalwart could then move into a coaching role under Mourinho.
Zanetti turns 41 in the summer and that is when his contract with Inter runs out at the San Siro. He played for Mourinho for two seasons from 2008-10 and hoisted the UEFA Champions League title as the ‘Special One’s’ captain in 2010. Zanetti is deemed as a hero by Internazionale’s fans, after joining the club in 1995 from Argentine side Banfield. He can play in a variety of roles across defense and midfield and he’s racked up 851 appearances for Inter in a glittering career which includes five Serie A titles, four Coppa Italia’s, a UEFA Cup and a Champions League title.
For Argentina Zanetti has made 145 appearances, after retiring from the international scene in 2011, and has won two Copa America’s and appeared in three World Cups, but was remarkably left out of the last two Argentine squads for the 2006 and 2010 tournaments. Much to the bemusement of players, coaches and journalists across the globe.
Needless to say, he has bags of experience.
But would this be a great move for Mourinho? Playing wise, Chelsea obviously have a different mantra in Mourinho’s second-spell in charge as the emphasis has been on buying young players and developing their talent. Zanetti could still do a job, but its the potential for him to become a coach that seems more likely.
With Zanetti still making a few appearance for Inter this season, five so far, the Argentine stalwart is still in incredible shape and will gain the respect of Chelsea’s players across the board. For many years I’ve watched Zanetti with awe, as his reading of the game and positional sense is second to none. You have to think Chelsea’s young crop of defenders such as Gary Cahill, Cesar Azpilicueta and David Luiz will learn so much from Zanetti.
This screams of another masterstroke from Mourinho, if Zanetti does switch the San Siro for Stamford Bridge this summer.
