Chelsea star Florent Malouda has revealed he turned down approaches Liverpool and Real Madrid prior to moving to the Blues in July 2007.
The former Lyon winger suggests once he heard of Chelsea’s interest there was only ever going to be one victor for his signature despite alleged overtures from their Premier League rivals Liverpool.
Malouda cost Chelsea £13.5 million in the summer of 2007 and although he initially struggled to adapt to the English game, he has since emerged as one his club’s most consistent performers.
Malouda told Chelsea TV: "Liverpool were the first club to make an offer. Lyon have a good relationship with Real Madrid as well, so they were saying to go there but my first choice was Chelsea.
"When Didier signed here, I came to Stamford Bridge many times, there was also Makelele and then Michael Essien came.
“I felt if I had to go to England then this would be the place where I'd feel comfortable and it would have the atmosphere that would help me perform.
"So I told the president of Lyon that my choice was Chelsea and I asked him to get me here before pre-season started."