Chelsea signing Bosingwa issues silverware battlecry

13/05/2008 

CHELSEA new boy Jose Bosingwa has vowed to turn the tables on Manchester United and bring silverware to Stamford Bridge.

The 25-year-old Portugal international right-back became Avram Grant’s first summer signing last night when snubbing the interest of United and completing a £16.2m move from FC Porto. And the DR Congo-born star was clear on what he expects to achieve when he joins up with the Blues squad after the Euro 2008 tournament.

“I played for a big team in Porto and now I’m going to a bigger team,” Bosingwa said. “My aim is to win titles. “I have friends who are at Chelsea and it’s a club I feel I can improve at and grow as a player. “I’ve always had a dream to play in England — I always watched the Premier League as a child, I love the English game and now I’m here I’m going to work to do my best.”

Bosingwa was taken to Porto by former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho in 2003 and helped the side win the 2004 Champions League title and four league championships. But his career took a backward step three years ago when he was involved in a serious car accident after his jeep skidded off the motorway and rolled down an embankment before bursting into flames.

He was with four other players at the time but all escaped alive, although Sandro Luis had to have his left foot amputated as a result of the accident. Bosingwa was being tracked by United boss Sir Alex Ferguson who is looking for a long-term replacement for full-back Gary Neville.

But instead the Portugese star opted for a move to Chelsea to play with international team-mates Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira.

His arrival, however, does now bring into question the future of both Ferreira and Chelsea’s other right-back — the 31-year-old Brazilian Juliano Belletti.

JOSE BOSINGWA

Born: August 24, 1982 (DR Congo)
Height: 6ft Position: Right back/midfielder
Career: Started at SC Freamunde in 2000, making 11 appearances before joining Boavista a year later. After two years he was enticed away by Jose Mourinho at FC Porto where he made 103 appearances, scoring two goals.
International: Portugal (6 caps)