Arjen Robben excluded Chelsea before performing a U -turn to join the club about Manchester United.
The former Netherlands winged player completed a 12 million pound change to the Stamford Bridge from PSV in March 2004.
4
4
His transfer was only a few months before his father had hit the blues publicly.
Robben was the subject of a transfer battle between Chelsea and United, which went back until January of the same year.
The Dutch team had invited the London club to talks after he had annoyed United’s approach.
After Robben had visited Old Trafford without permission to meet Sir Alex Ferguson.
He gave a tour of the stadium and extensive discussions with the Red Devils.
Robben’s father Hans was identified as the long -term successor to Ryan Giggs and made his transfer attitude clear.
Hans, who also acted as an agent of his son, made a brutal interview with the then owner Roman Abramovich.
He told the mirror at the time: “My son will not go to Chelsea. He will go there about my body.
“You have an owner who has no philosophy or structure in the club. Chelsea only buy expensive players all over Europe and think that it will make them a great team.
“But my son was to see Sir Alex Ferguson, and nobody knows better why organization and a good structure in a top club are so important.
4
4
“Old Trafford is the only place he wants to play, and if he can’t play there, he would rather stay with PSV.
“In fact, he would rather play in their reserves than go to Chelsea. It’s so easy.”
However, Chelsea announced Robben’s signing of a five -year contract only two months later.
United had remained on one step, but saw a pound of £ 5 rejected by PSV, so that their rivals could get in.
After signing the blues, Robben explained: “I think I can become a better player at Chelsea and develop into a top European player.”
He spent three years with the club, scored 19 goals and provided 23 templates in 106 appearances.
During this time, Robben won six trophies, including two Premier League titles and a FA Cup.
In the meantime, he could not find the goal of his four Chelsea appearances against United.
Robben was finally sold to Real Madrid in 2007 before spending a decade with the German Giants Bayern Munich.
In the summer of 2021 at the age of 37, he retired after returning to his youth club Groningen for a season.