Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has revealed that he tried to sign Shinji Kagawa when he was the manager of Real Madrid.

The Portuguese coach has claimed that the only reason the move fell through was because the Japan international did not want to play second fiddle to Mesut Ozil, who now plays for Arsenal.

Kagawa eventually left Borussia Dortmund for Manchester United, but has struggled to force his way into David Moyes's starting lineup at Old Trafford this season.

"It was not being able to always play at Real Madrid," The Express quotes Mourinho as saying. "My first choice at the time was Mesut Ozil. I told him honestly without hiding it."

Kagawa has been linked with a return to the Bundesliga in recent weeks.