Chelsea forward Willian has confirmed that Manchester United wanted to sign him last summer.

The Brazilian international has been fighting it out with Pedro for a place in Antonio Conte’s starting lineup this season, but was one of the few shining lights last year as the Blues, then under the management of José Mourinho, endured a shocking start to the Premier League defence.

Mourinho was the one who brought Willian to England in the first place, seeing off interest from Tottenham and Liverpool to acquire him for £30m from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013, and will be well aware of the qualities that he can offer a side.

Speaking to Brazilian publication Globo Esporte, Willian stated that Mourinho had an interest in bringing him to Old Trafford when he took the reins at the club last summer, but would not be drawn on supposed from other clubs in Europe:

“Concrete I do not know, right? But there was interest, yes.

“It was (from) Manchester United, because Mourinho is there too.

“Other clubs I do not know, but there are always some things on the internet. But I’m glad to know that clubs have to admire my work.”

The 28-year-old scored 11 goals in 49 games last season as Chelsea limped to 10th place in the league table, firing Mourinho halfway through the campaign. Aside from the usual show of being flattered, he did not say one way or the other if the move would have interested him if was more concrete.

Willian was apparently one of a number of targets sought by Mourinho as he looked to bolster his options on the right flank, a problem that was solved by the £27m arrival of Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund. Where his interest in the winger is now is unclear, but it does seem likely that with the Armenian on board then Mourinho will turn his attention to targets in other positions.