Carvalho keen to be reunited with mentor Mourinho

(GETTY IMAGES)

Chelsea's Ricardo Carvalho has indicated he would relish a reunion with Jose Mourinho at Internazionale, claiming he has not been given the support through injury that he deserved at Stamford Bridge.

Inter president Massimo Moratti made a declaration of intent to sign both Carvalho and his Portuguese team-mate Deco yesterday and, with the 31-year-old Carvalho particularly determined to leave, there is an acceptance at Stamford Bridge that they will both be gone this summer.

"I hope Chelsea and Inter can reach an agreement for me," Carvalho told Portuguese paper O Jogo. "I was injured for much of last season, and was not happy. They should have helped me more, especially given my past four years at Chelsea. That did not happen. Their attitude disappointed me a little."

It would be a sorry end for a player who was an integral part of Mourinho's Premier League title winning sides of 2005 and 2006 but who was marginalised in the brief Guus Hiddink era. The central defender managed a total of just 13 appearances for the FA Cup winners last season because of recurring injury problems, and it seems his appearance in the 4-4 draw in the Champions League at Anfield in April will be his last for the club. "My time at Chelsea is reaching an end," Carvalho said. "Being able to work with Jose Mourinho once again is very important to me. He is the coach who knows me better than any other."

Mourinho coached both Carvalho and Deco at Porto, and Moratti indicated that the latter is also set to join Inter. "Mourinho has asked us for Deco and Carvalho and we are working towards making him happy," he said. "Our wish is to sign both players and I have seen that the players' intention is to join us."

Carvalho and Deco are among the oldest players in the Chelsea squad and new manager Carlo Ancelotti knows he has to introduce some younger faces. Since joining Chelsea from Barcelona last summer, 31-year-old Deco has also suffered injuries, and Moratti already has a precise role mapped out for him. "Deco will have two tasks: to do well immediately and to help [Brazilian teenager Philippe] Coutinho mature as a player. Coutinho will arrive next season [from Vasco da Gama] and plays in the same role as Deco."

Meanwhile, Chelsea's interest in Carlos Tevez appears to have cooled. Despite Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from Old Trafford having apparently done little to alter his determination to leave Manchester United, it is understood that Chelsea will not be bidding. That leaves Manchester City as the prime contenders. No decision will be made by the Argentine until the end of this week at the earliest.