Manchester United icon Ruud van Nistelrooy has revealed Chelsea tried to buy him in January.
Van Nistelrooy is now leaving Hamburg and is a target for Tottenham, along with Spain's Malaga.
The Dutchman was one of the big stories of the winter market as Real Madrid made multiple failed attempts to prise him away from stubborn Hamburg.
"It wasn't just Real," revealed Ruud, "I could also have joined AC Milan when Filippo Inzaghi was injured. And Chelsea had made an approach for me.
"But anyway I did not leave HSV."
