Hands Off My Stars! – Mourinho Warns Barcelona

Hands Off My Stars! – Mourinho Warns Barcelona

Spanish champions, Barcelona have made some inquiries about the Chelsea duo of Ramires and Thibaut Courtois in recent weeks, as they look to strengthen their team in the January transfer window. They are on the lookout for a goalkeeper to replace Victor Valdez, who will be quitting the Nou Camp in the summer.

According to the Daily Mail, their attention has now been turned towards Courtois, who is currently in his third loan spell at fellow Spanish outfit Atletico Madrid from Chelsea. He has kept goal against Barcelona on several occasions these past 3 seasons, and his performances have been impressive. They want to snap up the young Belgian in the upcoming transfer window as a long-term replacement for the outgoing Valdez.

Apart from Courtois, they are also reported to be looking at Chelsea’s Brazilian international Ramires. Barcelona have identified their core midfield area as something which can do with some strengthening. They are interested in Ramires, who not only has a massive engine, but also other attributes which can work in combination with Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas and let those artistic play makers venture further without worrying so much about defending.

As reports of Barcelona’s interest started to gather steam, Mourinho has now commented and has put an end to these stories by clearly re-stating that the two are not for sale, as the Daily Mail reports. The Portugese manager always shared a feisty relationship with Barcelona given his Real Madrid links, reflected by his numerous antics during the hotly contested El Classicos. He would be absolutely hell bent to not sell any of his players to Barcelona.

He has come out in the open and while putting these rumors to bed, he stated, “In this moment we are in a good situation,”

“I repeat that because we have the best goalkeeper in the world at a stable age.”

“And Courtois is undoubtedly the best young goalkeeper in the world with two more years of contract. We are in control of the situation.”

Speaking of Ramires, Mourinho said that he would not sell him even for a ludicrous amount of money. He said, “There is no price for Ramires in the market. The interest doesn’t annoy me but, on behalf of Chelsea, there’s no price for a club wanting to buy Ramires.”

With Mourinho sounding firm on his stance, do you see him keeping hold of his two stars?