Champions League winner rejected Real Madrid to join Chelsea
Chelsea have been going through some tough times lately. Despite splashing out on transfers, they have struggled for positive results. But that cannot take away from the fact that they were one of the best teams in Europe for a long period of time. In fact, for a large part of the 00s, one could argue they had a better team than even Real Madrid.
Real Madrid have maintained their position as one of European football’s best while Chelsea have slipped up. But considering the ambition their new owners have shown, it feels like only a matter of time before they are back at the table.
There was a point of time when turning down Real Madrid to join Chelsea was a very real prospect. And one Champions League winner has even admitted to doing it.
While speaking on The Obi One Podcast, Florent Malouda said that Liverpool and Real Madrid were options for him as well but he chose to join Chelsea. Explaining his reasons, the Frenchman said:
"“I really wanted to come to Chelsea because I knew some of the guys with Michael Essien, Makelele, all those guys, and I was coming sometimes to watch the game. So I was feeling close to Chelsea.”"
Champions League winner rejected Real Madrid to join Chelsea
It is not hard to see why Real Madrid would have been interested in someone like Malouda. He was part of a great Lyon team at the time and had won the Ligue 1 four consecutive times. He was also named the French league’s Player of the Year in the 06/07 season.
Malouda did end up joining Chelsea and he had a very successful time in London. He won the Premier League on one occasion, three FA Cups and of course the Champions League.
Malouda was a very underrated player of his era for sure. He also represented the France national team on 80 occasions and was a part of the 2006 World Cup runner-up team. Someone like him perhaps could have done a pretty good job for Real Madrid but it is what it is.