Andre Villas-Boas clarified his meeting with Porto and Brazil forward Hulk, while admitting he is a "very special player for me."
Villas-Boas was seen paying Hulk a visit at Brazil's Olympic Games base in St Albans, ahead of their warm-up game against Great Britain. That meeting sparked speculation about Tottenham's interest in signing the striker, who has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea during the entire summer.
The former Porto boss, however, played down such speculations, saying he had just gone to have an informal chat with the player. "Hulk is a very special player for me," the former Chelsea coach told Terra. "We had a very good year together in Porto and we have a good relationship -- that I do not deny.
"But we have just been talking, nothing more."
Villas-Boas enjoyed an extremely successful season at Porto in 2010-11, leading the Portuguese side to three titles.
Meanwhile, Porto have cast further doubt on Hulk's move to Chelsea, by saying they want to build a team, capable of winning the Champions League, around the 25-year-old.
It is understood Chelsea and Porto have been in discussions for the transfer of Hulk for well over a month, with the Portuguese side holding out for at least £40 million ($62 million).
Hulk, who was at his tormenting best in Brazil's 2-0 win over Great Britain, has expressed his preference on a move to Chelsea, but admitted it was out of his hands.
However, Hulk's representative Teodoro Fonseca revealed Hulk was now more likely to stay another year in Portugal. "I've been talking frequently with Porto officials," Fonseca told Record.
"They and their manager count on Hulk and they told me that they want to build a team around Hulk that is capable of winning the Champions League."
A move for another reported Chelsea target, Porto defender Alvaro Pereira, was also ruled out with his agent saying Pereira would honor his contract. "His contract is with Porto and he will stay there unless there is a proposal that is acceptable to the club," Alejandro Savich is quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
"So far there is nothing at all."
