Chelsea quick to deny Rio speculation
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-13 10:30

Chelsea have distanced themselves from a possible transfer swoop for Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand.

England football star Rio Ferdinand (pictured) has taken the title of Britain's best-dressed man from team-mate David Beckham in an influential annual magazine survey.[AFP]

Ferdinand had a chance meeting with Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon in a London restaurant at the weekend but club officials insist this was not pre-arranged.

"We have made it absolutely clear to Manchester United that we have no interest in signing Rio Ferdinand and there is absolutely no significance in Peter Kenyon seeing Rio in a busy London restaurant. This was a meeting purely by chance in a public place," said Chelsea in a statement.

"Both the player and Manchester United are fully aware of the circumstances of the meeting and Chelsea's position on it."

"Any suggestion that there is an explanation other than a chance meeting will be met with the strongest legal action."

Chelsea, who tonight were playing in the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich in Germany, have been at the centre of controversy in recent months.

Aside from the Cole saga, Mourinho has also received a two-match touchline ban from UEFA for remarks made about an alleged conversation between referee Anders Frisk and Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard when the teams clashed at the Nou Camp.

Mourinho has not been attending Champions League press conferences and has sent his assistants, such as Baltemar Brito, to face the media.

Yesterday fitness coach Rui Faria spoke to journalists ahead of the Bayern clash. It had been suggested Faria was relaying messages from Mourinho during the first leg, although this accusation has not been proven.

Despite the controversy, Kenyon insists the club have behaved properly off the pitch this season.

"I think we conduct ourselves in the right manner, we certainly don't view ourselves as above the law,' Kenyon said earlier this season"

"There's so much good stuff going on at Chelsea, on and off the field, and it's sad to talk about this. The quicker we get on with the real issues and move forward the better we all are."

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