Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho maintains it took him only 20 minutes to convince Cesc Fabregas to sign from Barcelona - and reckons the former Arsenal captain never wanted to move back to his old club.
The Blues have been quick to bolster their squad this summer, bringing in Fabregas before the World Cup, and have since added fellow Spaniard Diego Costa and also defender Filipe Luis from Atletico Madrid, as well as promising 19-year-old midifielder Mario Pasalic from Hajduk Split.
Arsenal had first option to bring Fabregas back to the club he left in 2007, which manager Arsene Wenger passed up as he pursued other targets.
Mourinho, though, feels Stamford Bridge was always the midfielder's preferred destination.
"I spoke with him 20 minutes. I think he really wanted to come to us," said Mourinho, who is an ambassador and pundit for BT Sport next season and took part in a Q&A session at BT Tower in central London on Friday night.
"As you know, Arsenal had an option where they could interfere, but I think he was not open to that, I think he was very, very much in our direction, so it was an easy job for me."
Chelsea have been linked with several other big names this summer, including German World Cup winner Sami Khedira - also a reported target for Arsenal - and Monaco forward Radamel Falcao, who did not play for Colombia in Brazil because of injury.
Mourinho, though, indicated the Blues' chequebook was closed.
"I have to say my club did a fantastic job, and not just becaue of what we bought, but because we did it in almost record time. The transfer market closes 31 August and we close our market on July 19. We finished the market today," he said.
"The club did fantastic, we knew the targets, we knew the players and the club attacked them and their clubs at a very early stage.
"We got exactly what we need and what we want. The squad is one which I like very much and I look forward to starting the season."
Mourinho added: "I dont think so (sign any more players). The market is open, but we are so happy with what we have.
"We feel that our squad is what we want
"We don't want a squad of only end products. We also want to bring to the first team, three or four under-21s, we are going to develop players and are happy with this balance we have."
Mourinho maintains the dissapointment suffered by hosts Brazil this summer will not impact on the domestic form of Ramires, Oscar and Willian.
"I was more worried last season. Last season I felt them too much connected with the World Cup and we were January, February and March and I was feeling them already there and that really worried me, it as a difficult situation," he said.
"Now it was a big disappointment, but you have to move on from that in football.
"I am waiting for them and I don't think it will be a problem.
"I have to try to use it in a positive way - you didn't succeed so this season is important for you, let's change the image and the feelings and go back to what you are as what you were in the World Cup was your twin brother."
BT Sport is set to again showcase the Premier League with some 38 exclusively live matches, including 18 'top picks', which will start with Manchester United's opening match against Swansea on August 16.
Mourinho believes the 2014/2015 campaign will be the most difficult to predict.
"Why I like the Premier League so much is that at this moment, nobody knows who is going to win the title," he said.
"I know that we want to and I know that we can, but it is the kind of competition where I can't say.
"At this moment, I think between us, Liverpool, Arsenal, Man United, Man City - who is going to be first, who is going to play in the Europa League, I don't know."
Mourinho added: "There were good teams last season and there will be better teams this season because everyone is investing.
"If you make a team to be champions, then you have a big chance to finish in the top four."
Source: PA
