Former Inter Milan defender Marco Materazzi has admitted that it would be "a dream" if he could work with Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.

It has been reported that Mourinho will move to Chelsea at the end of the season, and Materazzi, who played under the Portuguese coach in Italy, has staked his claim to become part of his former manager's backroom team.

The 39-year-old told Sky Sports News: "I'd love to be his assistant, it would be a dream. In fact, you could call it an objective. I'd be working with the number one, so what could be better?

"Anyone who speaks ill of Mourinho just does it because of envy. I really liked his style of management, as he made us work a lot with the ball because he knows this sport is football.

"He always seeks success, as well as being an honest man. Honesty is one of the principle values in life, so why shouldn't it be in sport?"

Materazzi's only experience of English football was playing for Everton during the 1998-99 season.