Jose Mourinho Once Offered Adriano To Chelsea In A Swap Deal For Frank Lampard

Jose Mourinho once offered Adriano to Chelsea as part of a swap deal for Frank Lampard after falling out with the former Brazil international at Inter Milan.

Adriano was one of the most feared strikers in world football in the mid-2000s, with his best years coming during his second spell at Inter.

However, his form would sharply decline following the tragic death of his father in 2004.

His time at Inter would come to an end after Mourinho took charge of the Italian side in 2008.

Mourinho attempted to raid his former club Chelsea for midfielder Lampard, offering up Adriano as part of a potential swap deal.

Lampard had turned down the offer of a new four-year contract at Stamford Bridge and was initially keen to reunite with Mourinho at the San Siro.

Adriano would fall out with Mourinho at Inter Milan (Image: PA)

Adriano's former agent, Gilmar Rinaldi, told Observer Sport back in 2008: "Mourinho and Adriano have met and talked, but I can't say how this meeting went.

"'The player is flying back from Rio de Janeiro to Milan next week, as the pre-season starts on Wednesday.

“I will neither confirm nor deny that he will be exchanged for Lampard."

Chelsea would reject a number of bids from Inter before Lampard finally committed his future to the Blues by signing a new five-year deal at the club.

He would go on to become a legend at Stamford Bridge, while Adriano would leave Inter in 2009 in acrimonious circumstances.

After travelling to Brazil for international duty, Adriano failed to return to Inter, who subsequently cancelled his contract.

Adriano would go on to have spells at Flamengo, Roma, Corinthians, Atletico Paranaense and Miami United before eventually retiring in 2016.

Inter would cancel Adriano's contract in 2009 after he failed to return from international duty with Brazil (Image: PA)

Speaking about his departure from Inter, Adriano told The Players Tribune: "The press were following me everywhere, and everything with Mourinho was, 'F***ing hell! F***ing s***! You’re going to f*** me, aren’t you, boy?'

"I said, 'Oh Lord. Get me out of here'. I just couldn’t cope.

"I got called for the national team, and before I left Mourinho said, 'You’re not coming back, are you?'

"I said, 'You already know it!' One-way ticket, brother."

Topics: Adriano, Jose Mourinho, Frank Lampard, Football, Transfers, Chelsea, Serie A, Premier League, Inter Milan

Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan is Editorial Lead at SPORTbible. He has previously worked for Sky Sports News, MailOnline and Reach covering football, cricket, boxing and MMA. Tested daily as a Liverpool fan in a Manchester office.

@rory_ocallaghan