Portuguese attacking winger Ricardo Quaresma had hoped to make it big in Italy when countryman Jose Mourinho signed him from FC Porto for a massive 15 million pound at the start of the 2008/2009 season. As it was Mourinho’s first signing since becoming the coach of Italian champions, Quaresma’s move generated much interest both in Portugal and Italy as it showcased how the former Barcelona man was rated by the best in the business. Yet six months on and it seems so different as Chelsea pipped Tottenham to sign him on loan till the end of the season as Quaresma failed to make an impact at the San Siro since arriving in Milan during the summer.

Chelsea and Tottenham’s interest on the versatile winger actually turned into a race which the Stamford Bridge club managed to sneak in at the last moment and beat the North Londoners for the services of Quaresma who, according to many, can adapt to the English game quickly compared to the Italian one.

The question that arises at the moment is, can Ricardo Quaresma adjust to life at Chelsea and give them the push at the back to finish strongly among the top three? Or is this just a stop-gap solution to fill the hole left behind by the long term injury to Joe Cole? Well it must be admitted that Quaresma, nicknamed the ‘Mustang’ for his speed and power, has the ingredients to be a success story at Stamford Bridge.

This stint at Chelsea gives the Portuguese a chance to rejoin former national team boss Luiz Felipe Scolari and five of his countrymen at the club and this in itself is a plus as the powerful winger will be made to feel at home. Moreover, Quaresma’s style of play which is based on speed, skill and power would surely be a standout success story in the English Premier League come the end of the season.

The 25-year old has just played twelve times for the Italian champions this season and his match temperament could come under scanner as Chelsea faces an uphill battle to stay in the hunt for the Premier League title. Yet the talented former Sporting Lisbon star could find it far more interesting playing in England as Chelsea would give him a free role down the middle to try out his shooting prowess apart from operating down the wings in the mould of Christiano Ronaldo.

That the player is rated so highly in England was evident when Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp admitted that he personally spoke to Jose Mourinho for the services Ricardo Quaresma yet the Blues had the last laugh by snatching the ‘Mustang’ under the noses of Spurs. It remains to be seen how Quaresma adjusts to playing alongside the likes of Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack but the Portuguese, for sure, won’t be new to Scolari’s managerial tactics and skills and his arrival at the Bridge could be the start of a journey that resurrects both Chelsea and Quaresma’s seasons.

Playing at Chelsea is an opportunity for Quaresma to show Inter boss Mourinho of his permanent class as his long term future at San Siro could well depend on his success story at Jose Mourinho’s old club in London.