Blues legend was on the verge of teaming up with Mou in Italy.
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Returning Chelsea head coach Jose Mourinho has revealed just how close midfield player Frank Lampard came to leaving Stamford Bridge for Serie A giants Inter Milan a few years ago, according to reports in the Daily Star on Sunday.
The experienced England international had been approached by his Portuguese mentor who at the time was in charge at San Siro with a view to Lampard joining him in Italy.
However, despite thinking seriously about accepting the self-styled ‘Special One’s’ proposal, Lampard decided in the end to reject Mourinho’s offer and remain with the west London club instead.
And Mou has now claimed that the 35-year-old made the right decision to stay with the Blues.
“He is Chelsea. This is where he belongs,” said Mourinho, who coached Inter for two seasons between 2008 and 2010.
“It was close, very, very close. When he eventually turned me down I told him he had made the right decision.”
And Mourinho has also gone on to state that having senior pros such as Lampard, club captain John Terry and Ashley Cole already at Chelsea when he returned to the club for a second spell earlier this summer has helped him enormously in his work.
“They have made my life easier,” said Mourinho.
“It was a help for me, the way they communicated with other people, the way they know me and the way they helped others understand my ideas.
“They are good guys, they are professional and the relationship they have with me is perfect for the time of their career because they trust me.”
The west Londoners travel to take on Premier League strugglers Norwich City at Carrow Road on Sunday afternoon for a live TV clash looking for the three points that will take the Blues back into the top four of the table.