Arjen Robben snubbed Chelsea earlier than performing a U-turn to affix the membership over Manchester United.
The previous Netherlands winger accomplished a £12million change to Stamford Bridge from PSV in March 2004.
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His switch was agreed forward of a summer season arrival simply months after his dad had publicly slammed the Blues.
Robben had been the topic of a switch battle between Chelsea and United courting again to January of the identical yr.
The Dutch facet had invited the London membership for talks after being angered by United‘s method.
It got here after Robben visited Outdated Trafford with out their permission to satisfy with Sir Alex Ferguson.
He was give a tour of the stadium alongside intensive talks with the Pink Devils.
Having been recognized because the long-term successor to Ryan Giggs, Robben’s dad Hans made his switch stance clear.
Hans, who additionally acted as his son’s agent, hit out at then-Chelsea proprietor Roman Abramovich in a brutal interview.
He informed the Mirror on the time: “My son is not going to go to Chelsea. Over my lifeless physique will he go there.
“They’ve an proprietor who has no philosophy or construction on the membership. Chelsea simply purchase costly gamers throughout Europe and assume it can make them a terrific crew.
“However my son has been to see Sir Alex Ferguson and no person is aware of higher why organisation and a superb construction at a prime membership is so vital.
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“Outdated Trafford is the one place he needs to play and if he cannot play there he would reasonably keep at PSV.
“In reality he would reasonably play of their reserves than go to Chelsea. It is so simple as that.”
Nonetheless, Chelsea introduced Robben’s signing on a five-year deal simply two months later.
United had remained eager on a transfer, however noticed a reported £5m bid rejected by PSV, permitting their rivals to swoop in.
After signing for the Blues, Robben defined: “I feel I can turn out to be a greater participant at Chelsea and develop myself right into a prime European participant.”
He went on to spend three years with the membership, scoring 19 targets and offering 23 assists in 106 appearances.
In that point, Robben received six trophies together with two Premier League titles and an FA Cup.
In the meantime, he failed to seek out the goal in his 4 Chelsea appearances in opposition to United.
Robben was in the end bought to Actual Madrid in 2007 earlier than happening to spend a decade with German giants Bayern Munich.
He retired aged 37 in the summertime of 2021 after returning to his boyhood membership Groningen for a season.
