Chelsea yesterday agreed their first signing of the January transfer window, for the 18-year-old Brazilian right-back Wallace who will remain on loan at his club Fluminense until the end of the season.
The deal for Wallace was agreed by the club before Rafael Benitez's appointment last month as interim club manager. The Brazil Under-20 international has appeared only 18 times for the Fluminense first-team and will join a growing Brazilian contingent at the club that includes Oscar, Ramires, David Luiz and Lucas Piazon. Under Benitez, the Spanish right-back Cesar Azpilicueta has come into favour.
Juan Mata said yesterday that the Chelsea players were aware of the hostility directed at Benitez from the club's fans but had to concentrate on their own performances. He said: "I'm not deaf. Yes, we were aware. But it's not our – or my – responsibility. The supporters are free to do whatever they want. My job, our job, is to play well and to win. That's all I care about."
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