Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho reveals Benfica's Talisca could have moved to England
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has revealed Benfica youngster Talisca could have signed for an English club in the summer, had he been granted a work permit.
The Brazil Under-20 star announced his arrival in Portugal with a hat-trick in Benfica's win over Vitoria Setubal on Friday night, to add to his strike on debut the week before.
However, Mourinho acknowledged that had the 20-year-old forward been able to secure a work permit, Talisca would be plying his trade in the Premier League this season.
'I think Benfica hired well. They say Talisca is unknown, but he is only so unknown because he's only not playing in England because he doesn't have a work permit," Mourinho told Portuguese broadcaster TVI24.
"If he had one, he would be here."
"There were many English teams, great teams and important, that wanted him. Moreover, there were those who wanted to sign him, even though he could not play for now.
"They wanted to sign him, put him in a minor league [on loan] and hope that eventually he came to be selected [for Brazil's national team], and would consequently then get the work permit."