Chelsea and Tottenham Dealt Final Blow In Brazilian Playmaker Chase

Willian has agreed a move to Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala, Shakhtar Donetsk revealed, with the Chelsea and Tottenham target turning his back on a move to the Premier League

By Vanessa Keller: Subscribe to Vanessa's | January 31, 2013 9:44 PM GMT

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(Photo: REUTERS)<br>Willian has been a long-standing target for Tottenham and Chelsea, but chose a move to Russia instead.
(Photo: REUTERS)
Willian has been a long-standing target for Tottenham and Chelsea, but chose a move to Russia instead.

Chelsea and Tottenham have missed out on landing Brazilian star WIllian, with Shakhtar Donetsk revealing he has agreed a deal to move to Anzhi Makhachkala.

Willian has been a long-term target for Tottenham, with Spurs coming close to a last minute deal for the 24 year old in the summer, getting an extension on deadline day in the hopes of getting an agreement over the line.

But his fee couldn't be agreed on, and though Andre Villas-Boas appeared to be interested in taking the Shakhtar star on in January, with Chelsea also showing interest, he has now agreed a big money move to Russia instead.

"This is personal decision, and we must respect it," Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu told Sport Express, via Goal.com.

"There is a club willing to pay the release clause in his contract, and Willian agreed to move. There is nothing I can do.

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"To tell you frankly, I tried to convince him to stay because I think his decision is hasty and not thought out well enough. He is like a son to me.

"He came to Shakhtar almost as a child and leaves us as a 24-year-old man. I told him he would have achieved more with us when we said goodbye.

"Why did he not listen to me? I guess he was under huge pressure from his agent and his relatives that wanted to get everything at once."

The move brings to an end a massive transfer saga for both Tottenham and Chelsea, but with Willian still being young and full of potential, he could still be headed for a move to the Premier League in the future yet.

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