English Premier League:A beaming Arjen Robben was finally presented before 3,000 cheering fans at Real Madrid last night, basking in the warmth he alleges was denied to him during his time at Chelsea.
The 23-year-old winger completed his €36 million move to Spain after a month's speculation and tense negotiation between the two clubs before revealing he had been waiting impatiently for the deal to go through since the very first day of summer.
"For me it was a big relief when the final word came that I could join Real Madrid. It has been a really difficult time. I've been waiting to be able to come to Madrid since the first day back at training with Chelsea," Robben said.
The contrast with Chelsea could hardly be sharper, where negotiations over a new contract stalled. It was this breakdown that Robben's agent and father, Hans, considered an invitation for the player to leave.
Asked if Chelsea could have persuaded him to stay had they done more to keep him, Robben replied: "In the early stages, yes, they could have done more. But after a while, I felt I wasn't getting the confidence I needed - and then I started to change my mind about being at Chelsea."
Robben, who played just 51 times in three years at Stamford Bridge, said he hoped his move would prove a new start away from the treatment table.
"What I can say about Chelsea is that I had three nice years there. It was a great experience and we won every prize you can win in England," he said. "But I had too many injuries and that meant I couldn't make the impact I wanted."
The Dutchman was presented alongside another Premier League player, Gabriel Heinze, who joined for €12 million after his proposed move to Liverpool collapsed when a Premier League panel ruled against him. But despite having publicly admitted his desire to be the first player in 64 years to leave Old Trafford for Anfield, and taken legal action against Manchester United, Heinze insisted he has not departed as a villain.
"I don't think I left Manchester United under a cloud, I left as a league champion," Heinze said. "As for Alex Ferguson, I don't know if he is angry - you would have to ask him."
Chelsea's search for a right back has finished with the signing of Juliano Belletti (31) from Barcelona on a three-year deal. After declaring an interest in Daniel Alves but not agreeing a fee with Sevilla, Chelsea closed in on Belletti - underlining chairman Bruce Buck's insistence that they would not be held to ransom in any transfer deal.
Chelsea's transfer policy has shifted since Roman Abramovich first became owner, with chief executive Peter Kenyon outlining in the summer that money was available for the right players at the right price.
"It goes both ways in terms of not being held to ransom, in respect of players we might be selling and not being held ransom in respect to players we might be buying," said Buck.
Ukrainian champions Dynamo Kiev are seeking to sign their former striker Andriy Shevchenko on loan from Chelsea. The potential transfer coup was revealed by Dynamo president Igor Surkis."I've asked Shevchenko to ask his board to let him go to Dynamo (Kiev) on loan." he said.
Surkis admitted he could not afford to buy 30-year-old Shevchenko but claimed a loan was a possible. He said: "I'm ready to pay his salary instead of the Chelsea board but I'm not ready to reimburse 45 million dollars (€33 million) to Abramovich for him."
