Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has ruled out a move for Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, and Chelsea defenders Ashley Cole and Ricardo Carvalho.
Mourinho was linked with a move for Gerrard after taking over at Madrid earlier this summer but has since signed Germany midfielder Sami Khedira as well as wingers Angel di Maria and Pedro Leon, with youngster Sergio Canales also joining from Racing Santander.
The Portuguese believes it would have been difficult to prise Gerrard away from Liverpool in any case and says that, at 30, his value would only have diminished.
"He is part of the history of Liverpool, he belongs to the club - he is too important to them," he told reporters in Los Angeles.
"The same thing happened when I tried to take Frank Lampard to Inter Milan."
Mourinho admitted he did want to sign Cole, but says Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti vetoed that move.
"Carlo Ancelotti was very clear. [He said] there is no money that will sign Ashley Cole, he needs to stay," he said.
"We thought of him because he was a good player who I enjoyed working with, but when the coach says no, it's no - you have to accept it."
