Boas resigned as Porto coach Tuesday, leaving the man often compared to Jose Mourinho free to make an expected move to Premier League club Chelsea. The Portuguese champion said in a statement Tuesday that Villas-Boas informed the club he is triggering the $21.5 million release clause to terminate his contract, which ends immediately. English Premier League giants Chelsea confirmed Tuesday they were set to hold talks with Villas-Boas. The 33-year-old — who guided Porto to the domestic double and the Europa League trophies last season — would become the youngest coach in the history of the Premier League should the talks prove successful. Chelsea, for whom Villas-Boas worked when compatriot and mentor Jose Mourinho was their manager, released a statement declaring their intentions. “We note that the release clause of Andre Villas-Boas has been activated,” a Chelsea club statement read. “We can at this time confirm our interest in him and hope to reach agreement with him on personal terms and make a further announcement in the near future,” added the club, who have been without a manager since sacking Carlo Ancelotti after they finished without a trophy last month. FC Porto said in a statement that they had been “notified of the intention of coach Andre Villas-Boas to terminate his contract by activating the departure clause with immediate effect”. The club added that his contract “would be terminated after the payment of the required sum”.
