Chelsea transfer target reveals why £42m deal collapsed - 'We had a bad time'

Former Chelsea target Samu Omorodion has revealed why his move to Stamford Bridge collapsed in the summer - claiming "God didn't want it".

The Spanish international looked likely to become a Blues player before his club Atletico Madrid rejected Chelsea's £42million offer - which had a knock-on effect as Conor Gallagher's move in the other direction nearly broke down as a result.

Omorodion ended up joining FC Porto instead and has had an electric start to life in Portugal, becoming an important player for manager Vitor Bruno after netting seven goals in all competitions.

The 20-year-old said he and his team had a "really bad time" during negotiations with Chelsea and believes God is responsible for the breakdown of the move - insisting it didn't work out for a reason.

"I had a very difficult summer," he told RTVE in Spain. "We had a really bad time because in the end everyone knows that I was close to signing, but it’s true that if it didn’t happen, it was for a reason, because God didn’t want it.

"I’m also very grateful to Porto for giving me the opportunity when things looked at their worst, and I’m very happy with where I am now. I’ve left the past behind and now I’m focused on what’s coming to me."

Omorodion - who netted a brace against Manchester United in the Europa League this month - started his career with Spanish side Granada before joining Atletico last year. He never made a senior appearance for the club and spent last season on loan at Alaves, where he netted eight times in 35 matches.

Former Porto boss Andreas Villas-Boas - who is now the president of the club - joked how even Fabrizio Romano didn't know Omorodion was signing for them.

"It was a special deal for us because between us [Porto] and Atletico we kept the deal secret. Fortunately for us Fabrizio Romano didn't find anything about this deal, or else we would never have had a chance to do it!"

Chelsea failed to sign a true out-and-out forward that they were craving this summer but managed to bring in attacker Joao Felix from Atletico instead - one of 11 transfers brought in for new boss Enzo Maresca.

Felix - who was out of favour at Atletico like Omorodion - has not managed to start a game for Chelsea yet, but has scored once after coming off the bench five times so far.