EPL: Mourinho says Fabregas did not want Arsenal

The Blues boss says that luring the Spain international to Stamford Bridge was "an easy job for me" and that there was never really option for him to go back to north London

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho claims Cesc Fabregas wanted to move to Stamford Bridge this summer, rather than return to former club Arsenal.

The Spain international completed his move to the Blues in June from Barcelona for a fee believed to be in the region of €38 million.

Former side Arsenal did have the option to re-sign the midfielder but opted against activating the buyback clause in his Barcelona contract, though Mourinho insists that Fabregas was never interested in rejoining the Gunners.

"I spoke with him for 20 minutes," said Mourinho, speaking in his role as a football expert and ambassador for BT Sport. 

"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. He was very much in our direction. It was an easy job for me."

Fabregas will be joined at Chelsea by Atletico Madrid duo Diego Costa and Filipe Luis, with Mourinho thrilled by his club's dealings in the transfer market, which he says are now "closed".

"I have to say my club did a fantastic job and not just because of what we bought but a fantastic job because we did it almost in record time," the Portuguese added. 

"The market closes at August 31 and we close our market on July 19. We finished our market. The club did fantastic. We knew the targets, we knew the players. 

"The club attacked them and their clubs at a very early stage. We got exactly what we need. The squad is a squad I like very much."