London: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho dismissed speculation on Saturday that he flew to Sao Paulo to try and sign Carlos Tevez from Brazilian club Corinthians.
Mourinho went to watch Corinthians lose 3-1 at home to Argentina's River Plate in the Copa Libertadores on Thursday but said he wasn't there just to see Tevez, who is one of the most sought after strikers in the game.
"People can say what they like, but there are 22 players in this match worth watching," said Mourinho, whose team captured the Premier League title for the second season in a row a week ago.
"I go to the game because it is South America's equivalent of the Champions League and it is a great tournament. Now the Premiership is over I can go and enjoy other football without worry."
Kia Joorachian, president of Corinthians' financial partner Media Sports Investment (MSI), said the Argentina international striker would not be leaving the club for several years.
"There's no point naming a price as he's not for sale," he told The Times.
"He's 22 years old, the best player in South America and one of the best players in the world. For me he is irreplaceable."
MSI paid a Brazilian record US $19.5 million to transfer Tevez from Argentina's Boca Juniors in 2004 after he helped the Buenos Aires club win the Copa Libertadores a year earlier.
Tevez, whose eight goals helped Argentina win the Olympic soccer title in Athens in 2004, will be on the national squad at the upcoming World Cup in Germany.
He scored 19 goals and helped Corinthians to last year's Brazilian crown, its fourth title and first since 1999.
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