It is over a decade since Ruud Gullit introduced Chelsea to the concept of sexy football and the club may have finally found his spiritual successor. Deco yesterday offered to take on responsibility for delivering the spectacle and excitement that is demanded by Roman Abramovich, though also asked for help in the creativity department by calling on the club complete the purchase of Robinho.

As Luiz Felipe Scolari’s first signing Deco was always likely to be accorded a special place in his evolving Chelsea team. The 30-year-old has been the pivotal player in every team he has represented since leaving Brazil 11 years ago, inspiring FC Porto and Barcelona to Champions League wins and helping Portugal reach the latter stages of two European Championships and a World Cup.

For all the talented players at Stamford Bridge Chelsea have been lacking a truly creative midfield player for several years, an individual capable of manufacturing an opening and executing a killer pass with absolute precision. Eidur Gudjohnsen was their last such creative player, but two years of watching them together in Barcelona shirts suggests that Deco’s talent is on a different level altogether.

Admittedly against modest opposition Deco has been the star of Chelsea’s pre-season tour. In a dreadful mismatch against the woeful Chengdu Blades in Macau the only entertainment on offer was watching the Portuguese’s movement off and subsequent use of the ball, which better sides will surely attempt to clamp down on when the Barclays Premier League begins next week.

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“Everybody wants to see good football,” Deco said. “The first rule for winning football is to make sure we play well. But, for all that we’ll try to play good exciting football, our opponents are always going to be trying to stop us from doing that.

Sometimes the games won’t be as spectacular as we’d like.

“That’s just the way it is. But this team has players with great quality who can play high calibre football. Good quality and exciting football. It’s the responsibility of all the players to play exciting football, but I’m more than happy to assume that role. I’ll take on the role of making the football exciting very happily.”

How Deco’s precious gifts will be integrated with the rest of Chelsea’s powerful midfield will be intriguing to watch, though he will surely be accommodated. With John Obi Mikel inked in to replace Claude Makelele as a holding midfield player Chelsea’s wingers could be the ones to miss out, with Scolari leaning towards playing Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Deco in a 4-1-4-1 formation. Given his age Deco is likely to be rested on occasions, while given the level of competition even Lampard may no longer be able to demand that he plays in every single game.

“I don’t think the important thing is who is going to play,” Deco said. “The important thing is that whoever is selected plays well. We’ve got so many games to come this season and I’m sure I won’t play them all. I’m sure I’ll be rested from time to time but, as I said, the main thing is not really who plays, but that you play well when you are picked.

“It’s only the very beginning for me at this club, but I’ve been really pleased with the way things have gone so far. The truth is that, when you’ve got players of the quality that we have here, it was always going to make things so much easier for me to adapt.” The arrival of Robinho would completely alter the balance of the side, though Deco would be delighted to welcome a player he regards as a magical talent.

“Robinho is a spectacular player,” he said. “He’s got incredible skill. He has magic and is capable of anything on a football pitch. His quality is amazing. It would be great if he joined us and he’d be made very welcome here.”

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