Mehdi Benatia is another star Chelsea almost signed, but living with Didier Drogba and Claude Makelele for four days was enough to persuade the centre-back that the move wasn't for him. During Jose Mourinho's first tenure in charge of the club, Benatia had a trial at Stamford Bridge and considered leaving Marseille, where he had just progressed from the youth ranks. He was offered a three-year contract by Mourinho, but turned it down as he couldn't bring himself to leave the French club. He explained: I did a test of three or four days in London. I lived with Didier Drogba and Claude Makelele.
They were a great team but I did not feel ready to go. I was offered a three-year contract but I was fine at Marseille and the idea of moving abroad scared me.
Benatia has since joined Roma and has impressed for the Italian side, while he has also gone on to win his first caps for his native Morocco. Turning down a move to the Blues doesn't appear to have harmed his career prospects too much.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
