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The agent of Ghana midfield star Michael Essien has refuted reports his client is on the verge of joining Spanish giant Real Madrid. Football�s �special one� Jose Mourinho is believed to have step up the chase to lure the Ghana international as a possible replacement for Lassana Diarra who is expected to leave the club next season. Mourinho was in charge when Essien joined Chelsea for �24.4million in 2005 and the duo have been close ever since. But his agent, Fabien Piveteau, said: �He regularly has Jose Mourinho on the phone because they know each other well and have got on with each other since Jose was in charge of Chelsea�. �But Real Madrid has never really appealed to him. Michael will stay at Chelsea, where he has another four years left on his contract. �He�s very happy there, in a great city and a very good club which comes up against very good teams week in, week out.�