Former Chelsea midfielder Oscar has declared he made the correct career choice in turning down a move to Tottenham Hotspur in favour of joining the Blues over a decade ago.
The Phone Call That Changed Everything
In a revealing interview on John Obi Mikel's podcast, the Brazilian playmaker detailed how his path to the Premier League began with an approach from Tottenham. Then-Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas made the first move, personally calling Oscar after his impressive performances for Internacional in Brazil. Despite this direct appeal, Oscar's destiny lay elsewhere in London.
"I had Tottenham as well, Andre Villas-Boas was there," Oscar confirmed. "Yes, Villas-Boas was the first one to call me. Wow." The manager's persistence was long-lasting, with Oscar later playing under him in China, where Villas-Boas would joke, "I talked to you, why didn't you come?"
An Easy Decision for Stamford Bridge
However, when Chelsea entered the fray with an offer, Oscar's mind was made up. The Blues paid around £25 million to secure his signature in 2012, a fee that proved to be excellent value. "But, you know, Chelsea… I cannot compare. Chelsea is better, so I chose Chelsea," Oscar stated bluntly. He emphasised that the decision was "relatively straightforward."
His conviction was rewarded with immediate success. Oscar became a pivotal figure at Stamford Bridge, making over 200 appearances and winning major honours. He was instrumental in Jose Mourinho's 2015 Premier League title triumph and again under Antonio Conte in 2017. In stark contrast, Tottenham finished fifth in what would have been his first season and were runners-up to his Chelsea side in 2016-17.
Life After Chelsea and Health Concerns
Oscar's career took a surprising turn in 2017 when he became one of the first major stars to move to the Chinese Super League, joining Shanghai Port on a lucrative deal reportedly worth over £20 million per year. He spent eight seasons there before returning to his boyhood club, Sao Paulo, in late 2024.
His future in the game is now uncertain. Reports from Brazil suggest the 33-year-old is considering retirement due to heart-related issues. This follows an incident in November where Oscar collapsed in training and was hospitalised for five days with vasovagal syncope, a condition affecting heart rate and blood pressure.
Reflecting on his time in West London, Oscar has no regrets. "It was the right choice, because I played good football there, we won some titles that year. So it was amazing."
He also offered advice for the latest Brazilian hoping to shine at Chelsea, teenage sensation Estevao Willian, who joined from Palmeiras for £51 million last summer. "He is very good," Oscar said. "He has the dribbling, he likes to score goals, has a lot of talent. We need to give him time to adapt in Europe."
