LONDON - After the arrival of Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko, Chelsea is reported to be chasing Brazilian star Roberto Carlos.

Brazilian soccer player Roberto Carlos kicks the ball during a training session at the Thermoplan Arena in the Swiss town of Weggis, Switzerland, May 27, 2006.[Reuters]

A day after Shevchenko signed a four-year deal at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was quoted as saying he would like to sign Carlos from Real Madrid.

"Roberto Carlos is 33 but for me he continues to be the best player in his position and I wish it would be possible," Mourinho told Portuguese television station TVI.

"I am not one of those who looks at a player's birth certificate. I am one of those who thinks what matters is what he does during the 90 minutes he is on the pitch, not if he is 20, 30 or 40.

"We will have to be patient and wait to see what happens."

Meanwhile, Chelsea's stars welcomed the arrival of Shevchenko, who scored 173 goals in seven seasons at AC Milan after helping Dynamo Kiev win five domestic league titles in Ukraine.

"Fantastic signing," said England midfielder Frank Lampard. "We've been linked with a lot of top strikers for a while now. He's certainly one of the best if not the best striker over the past five or so years in Europe and a fantastic addition to the squad."

Joe Cole said he was also looking forward to teaming with the Ukrainian star.

"He's one of the best in the world, if not the best goalscorer," he said. "I'm looking forward to playing with him and try and hopefully make him a few goals. It's a step in the right direction for the club. Alongside Ballack as well, two major stars in the peak of their career."

Chelsea fans will have to wait until after the World Cup to get a first sight of Shevchenko.

Although he came to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday to have a medical checkup and sign a contract, he returned immediately to team up with his Ukraine teammates for the former Soviet republic's World Cup debut. Chelsea said he will be introduced at a club news conference sometime after the World Cup.

"There are so many international players (at Chelsea)," Shevchenko told the club's TV channel through an interpreter. "The flags of the team are John Terry and Frank Lampard. I can also remember some of the (Chelsea) stars who used to play in Italy like Gianfranco Zola.

"I hope I can adapt quickly (to the Premier League) but it depends on the World Cup and preseason. What is for sure is that I will use all my strength to do what is best from the beginning for this club and the fans."

Mourinho moved to Chelsea two years ago after guiding FC Porto to a Champions League triumph. Despite winning back-to-back Premier League titles with the Blues, he has so far been unable to bring European soccer's biggest club title to Stamford Bridge.

Shevchenko has experienced both winning and losing in Champions League finals with AC Milan.

He scored the final spot kick as Milan beat Juventus on penalties in the 2003 final at Old Trafford. When his penalty was saved, Milan lost a shootout to Liverpool after a thrilling 3-3 draw in Istanbul in 2005.

"I felt very happy when we won the Champions League and very unhappy when we lost," he said. "But it's the most important challenge and it gives you big emotions."

Mourinho said that Shevchenko's arrival, following that of Germany captain Ballack two weeks ago, showed that Chelsea had become one of the biggest attractions in the game.

"Today is a day when the dream became reality," Mourinho said after Shevchenko signed his contract. "Andriy has always been my first choice for Chelsea since I arrived. Before it was not possible, now it is for real. He has great qualities, ambition, discipline, tactical awareness and of course he is a great goalscorer."

Ballack and Shevchenko aren't Chelsea's only new recruits.

Ivory Coast-born striker Salomon Kalou joined the club from Feyenoord on Tuesday for a fee the Blues declined to disclose. Portuguese goalkeeper Hilario had a medical checkup on Thursday as Mourinho seeks another backup for Czech World Cup star Petr Cech.