Brazilian star Carlos claims Chelsea are showing interest

ROBERTO CARLOS has claimed English Premiership champions Chelsea are interested in signing him.

The 33-year-old Real Madrid left-back has just one year left on his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Brazil international insists it would be a wrench to leave the Spanish giants but with elections for a new president due to be held at the beginning of July, he admits his future at the club is up in the air.

“Nothing has been signed although I have been told Chelsea want me,” he said yesterday “I have told them they have to speak with Real Madrid, that there are a period of elections and that I have a contract. I do not know what is going to happen in the elections and I have to know if the new president and the new coach want me.

“It is true there has been something from Chelsea and if it is concrete, it would give me a lot of grief to leave Madrid after so many years.”

Chelsea have previously inquired about the Brazilian and Marca speculate that Asier Del Horno could move the opposite way in a swap deal.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho is close to signing Henrique “Hilario” Sampaio of Portuguese side Nacional as the London club’s third keeper.

The 30-year-old, who played under Mourinho at Portuguese champions FC Porto in the 2002-03 season, is poised to sign with Chelsea for two seasons.

The player’s three-year contract with Nacional, based on the Portuguese island of Madeira in the Atlantic, expires at the end of July.

“I can hardly believe it. It still has to be confirmed. I have no words to define the pleasure it would be to work with Mournho again,” he admitted.

The Chelsea coach told reporters in Lisbon Monday he was looking for a third goalkeeper to join Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini and was open to hiring a player from the Portuguese league.

“We’ll see. I need a goalkeeper who is experienced, tranquil, a team player,” he said when asked if Benfica’s Qium was an option.

“It is possible that I will find someone with this profile in Portuguese football,” he added.

Nacional finished the season in fifth place, securing a spot in the UEFA Cup alongside Sporting Braga and Portuguese Cup finalists Vitoria Setubal.