Brazil legend Carlos has revealed that he was “very close” to joining Chelsea in 2007.

According to the defender the transfer deal collapse at the last minute before an agreement could be met.

He was a free agent at the time, having left Real Madrid after 11 years at Santiago Bernabeu outfit.

“I had two proposals, Fenerbahce and Chelsea,” Carlos said after the Challenge Heineken Legends.

“Chelsea didn’t work out so I signed for Fenerbahce.

“But, with Chelsea, it got very close and it was literally agreed and I just had to go there and sign the contract.

“It was just a week before I signed for Fenerbahce and I had been to Paris to meet both Roman Abramovich and Peter Kenyon.

“Unfortunately, in the final moments something didn’t work out just before finalising, which happens a lot in football and there was an issue with the lawyer.

“It was all agreed, though, and I am 100 per cent sure I would have done well in the Premier League and it would have suited my characteristics.”

Roberto Carlos also revealed that he could even have ended up in England as a 22-year-old.

“I was still playing in Brazil with Palmeiras when Aston Villa came in for me in 1995 but they couldn’t afford the deal and after that, I went to Inter.”

He won three Champions Leagues and four Liga titles with the Real Madrid, while he also lifted the World Cup in 2002.

Brazil have not been crowned world champions since, but Carlos is optimistic about his country’s latest crop of young players.

“Vinicius Junior and Rodrigo of Real Madrid are the future, along with Flamengo’s Gerson.

“These are the guys I am most excited about and all three are fantastic players and they will be very successful.”

Carlos believes that fellow countryman Marcelo is now the reference point for all aspiring left backs.

“I feel like I was an example to follow after what I achieved, just like what Marcelo is doing now in Real Madrid,” he argued.

“People will follow Marcelo just as they followed me.”