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Chelsea Transfer News: What Hulk Signing Means for Roberto Di Matteo's Future

Ben Chodos@bchodosX.com LogoCorrespondent IIJune 1, 2012

MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 19:  Roberto Di Matteo interim manager of Chelsea looks on ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final between FC Bayern Muenchen and Chelsea at the Fussball Arena München on May 19, 2012 in Munich, Germany.  (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Roman Abramovich has started his spending spree early this summer, and after buying Hulk, manager Roberto Di Matteo’s future at the club looks grim.

Chelsea was able to pry the Porto striker away from his club for £38 million, according to John Cross of Mirror Football.

This is the third signing already for the Blues. They already shelled out £32 million for Lille’s Eden Hazard and £8 for Weder Bremen’s Marko Marin, as noted in the same report.

All three of the players are attackers who pay little attention to defense. But Di Matteo was able to win two trophies for Chelsea with his brilliant defensive tactics.

Di Matteo did exactly what he needed to in order to defeat whatever opponent the Blues were facing. He took everything game by game and played the style that made the most sense considering the matchup. 

Against Barcelona and Bayern Munich, this meant packing the back and frustrating their attack. This did not produce the most exciting product, but it worked.

These signings suggest that Abramovich was not very fond of the style that Chelsea played in their Champions League run, although I’m sure he’s pleased with the result.

But now that Abramovich has his coveted Champions League trophy, winning another one does not seem to be his only goal. His moves so far suggest that he wants to win like Barcelona did—through utter domination.

What better way to make this happen than by adding a host of talented and creative attackers, then signing the manager that led Barça for the past few years?

This appears to be the final piece to the Russian’s master plan, and Jason Burt of the Telegraph reports that Chelsea has already made offers to Pep Guardiola, who resigned his position with the Catalan giants. 

The days of Chelsea playing with all of their players behind will not last long, and neither will Di Matteo’s tenure as manager. 

These defensive tactics do not appeal to Abramovich now that they have served their purpose, and the billionaire is laying the groundwork to bring tiki-taka to London. Di Matteo will likely not be a part of those plans.