Malouda snubbed Real Madrid and Liverpool

[Hutch]

as an antidote to all the whining that only Chelsea get "snubbed" by top players. not only did Malouda not want to go to Liverpool or Madrid, he also rejected the advice of the club he was playing for at the time to come to Stamford Bridge:

Chelsea star: "Liverpool were the first club to make an offer"

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."

LINK

[coco]

top man ! made the right choice as neither team has won fcuk all since he signed for us.

[Maksimov]

I didn't think he was good enough to be a Chelsea player when we signed him and he didn't do anything to change that impression during his first years, but he always seemed like a likable fella and this is just another example. I'm glad he's improved as much as he has and long may it continue, because I don't mind eating a serving of humble pie every now and then, if it means we get to see these kind of results.

[Cam]

Malouda has become one of my favourite players...he's enjoyable to watch...especially when we're playing well.

[Scooby Blue]

I didn't think he was good enough to be a Chelsea player when we signed him and he didn't do anything to change that impression during his first years, but he always seemed like a likable fella and this is just another example. I'm glad he's improved as much as he has and long may it continue, because I don't mind eating a serving of humble pie every now and then, if it means we get to see these kind of results.

Better make that two servings of humble pie.

I had the same opinion during his first year or so. He certainly has come on since. Maybe our most improved player in recent years alongside Ivanovic.

[Nibs]

Better make that two servings of humble pie.

I had the same opinion during his first year or so. He certainly has come on since. Maybe our most improved player in recent years alongside Ivanovic.

To be fair, I think everyone did.

I remember there was a rumour that Benitez was thinking about offering us about £11m for him and it was unaminous on here that we should be biting his hand off.

I can't recall any other coming good like Malouda has after such a poor start. It started when Hiddink took over and he hasn't looked back.

[TheWestwayWonder]

Yup, humble pie for me too. I encapsulated all my frustrations about him and Kalou by the portmanteau Kalouda.

Anyway, the article. Ahahahaha, suck on that you 'istroy lovin c**ts.

[ethicalstrategy]

Yup, humble pie for me too. I encapsulated all my frustrations about him and Kalou by the portmanteau Kalouda.

Anyway, the article. Ahahahaha, suck on that you 'istroy lovin c**ts.

I wonder when was the last time someone used the words "portmanteau" and "'istory lovin c**ts" in the same post? :D

[yorkleyblue]

I wonder when was the last time someone used the words "portmanteau" and "'istory lovin c**ts" in the same post? :D

That was Lofty, just before he got spanked and made to stand in the corner

[dkw]

That was Lofty, just before he got spanked and made to stand in the corner

Ah yes, them were the days moi was ultra kinky. As nibs says, hardly anyone rated Malouda and its great to see him stick in and prove us all wrong, as opposed to certain other players who just ran away. The thing i cant understand about Malouda though is how is he so good? Hes not that quick, not really that tricky, not an amazing crossoer or creater, but jesus hes effective.

[big blue]

Ah yes, them were the days moi was ultra kinky. As nibs says, hardly anyone rated Malouda and its great to see him stick in and prove us all wrong, as opposed to certain other players who just ran away. The thing i cant understand about Malouda though is how is he so good? Hes not that quick, not really that tricky, not an amazing crossoer or creater, but jesus hes effective.

iknow what u mean dont think he really excels in any department, but he finishes at times like a striker, and although he's not the quickest he is 1 of tyhe most direct players weve had and his crossing has improved no end. not to mention he prob puts in better corners than frank.

[Guest]

I'm gonna risk the wrath a bit of people here and say i've always had some kind of faith in his abilities to make it here at Chelsea.

Let me explain.......

I remember back when we signed him and his "competitive" debut in the Charity Shield against Man Utd where he was run into by Rio Ferdinand but still managed, falling over, to turn around slotting the ball home into the net for what I think was the winner. He then followed it up with some good performances on the wing in the 4-4-2 variant Mourinho had us playing in his final few games at the club. I knew then he was a good player.

It all changed when Mourinho left. Now this is not putting anything good on Mourinho or bad on Grant, just some players do better under different formations/tactics and therefore managers. Ballack for example was pants under Mourinho but found his steam once Grant took over (that might have even been his best period for us). But under Grant he just didn't do the job and here (in my opinion is why).

His work rate dropped.....considerably in my opinion. One of my memories of this is hearing Loz on this forum bemoan his lack of workrate (not tracking back when he lost the ball) on a particular occasion which I think (but im not sure) was that FA cup game where we were knocked out by a Championship team (I think Burnley) in Avram Grant's period in charge. This lack of workrate didn't change for a while and I remember watching the Euro's on Setanta Sport when the half time panel were having a go at him for not challenging the keeper in a France game at the championships.

I'm not sure what it was, probably had something to do with workrate, but also confidence. But it was the Hiddink period when we saw the turn around in form. I remember Hiddink had us playing a fairly direct style 4-3-3 where Lampard would get the ball and immediately pass long to Anelka or Malouda on either flank where he was somewhat isolated against the oppositions full backs and with time and space in which to operate. Hiddink really did put alot of trust in Malouda during this period and it was (in my opinion) when it turned around for him.

So yeah, i'm gonna stick my hand up now and say that I always felt Malouda had it in him to be a productive player for us even when he was poor. I just felt with his size and strength he would cause full backs problems and saw enough in his early period at the club to see he had enough talent to be a good player for us. He just unfortunately didn't seem to want to put his body on the line enough and work hard enough on the pitch back then. He seemed to me previously just not to have that killer mentality and aggressiveness in his play before and would therefore pull out of or not go into challenges he should have back then. The times i've always remembered him as being at his best, he got the ball and aggressively ran at players trying to beat them rather than being content to play sideways passes and retain possession.

[dkw]

The two things to take from Qaz and Big Blues posts for are when both point out just how aggressive and direct he is, its a superb quality he has that causes all kinds of mayhem at times. I can actually remember seeing you post some quite positive things about him when most were saying get rid Qaz, well done you clever bugger . Maybe a lesson to be learned for us all.

[Hutch]

I'm gonna risk the wrath a bit of people here and say i've always had some kind of faith in his abilities to make it here at Chelsea.

Let me explain.......

I remember back when we signed him and his "competitive" debut in the Charity Shield against Man Utd where he was run into by Rio Ferdinand but still managed, falling over, to turn around slotting the ball home into the net for what I think was the winner. He then followed it up with some good performances on the wing in the 4-4-2 variant Mourinho had us playing in his final few games at the club. I knew then he was a good player.

It all changed when Mourinho left. Now this is not putting anything good on Mourinho or bad on Grant, just some players do better under different formations/tactics and therefore managers. Ballack for example was pants under Mourinho but found his steam once Grant took over (that might have even been his best period for us). But under Grant he just didn't do the job and here (in my opinion is why).

His work rate dropped.....considerably in my opinion. One of my memories of this is hearing Loz on this forum bemoan his lack of workrate (not tracking back when he lost the ball) on a particular occasion which I think (but im not sure) was that FA cup game where we were knocked out by a Championship team (I think Burnley) in Avram Grant's period in charge. This lack of workrate didn't change for a while and I remember watching the Euro's on Setanta Sport when the half time panel were having a go at him for not challenging the keeper in a France game at the championships.

I'm not sure what it was, probably had something to do with workrate, but also confidence. But it was the Hiddink period when we saw the turn around in form. I remember Hiddink had us playing a fairly direct style 4-3-3 where Lampard would get the ball and immediately pass long to Anelka or Malouda on either flank where he was somewhat isolated against the oppositions full backs and with time and space in which to operate. Hiddink really did put alot of trust in Malouda during this period and it was (in my opinion) when it turned around for him.

So yeah, i'm gonna stick my hand up now and say that I always felt Malouda had it in him to be a productive player for us even when he was poor. I just felt with his size and strength he would cause full backs problems and saw enough in his early period at the club to see he had enough talent to be a good player for us. He just unfortunately didn't seem to want to put his body on the line enough and work hard enough on the pitch back then. He seemed to me previously just not to have that killer mentality and aggressiveness in his play before and would therefore pull out of or not go into challenges he should have back then. The times i've always remembered him as being at his best, he got the ball and aggressively ran at players trying to beat them rather than being content to play sideways passes and retain possession.

that's actually a great post. insightful, perceptive and bang on the money.

[Gem]

............Always rated him.

[bonetti]

............Always rated him.

yeah me too

[Ant]

Just a shame other palyers like shevchenko didn`t improve as much as malouda has over the years.

But what a fine fine player he is and from his first season to what he is doing for us know is unthinkable.

Yeh i was one of those many blues fans who thought who the f**k is this ? & why is he playing when other consistent players could be playing instead of being on the bench.

I am so happy to have been proven wrong thou & like to think he was one of the main reasons we won the doulble last season for his work rate/ plenty of goals etc etc, just long may it continue am telling ya

As for him going to liverpool instead of us well i just out loud, no way he would have a premiership winners/fa cup winners medal round his neck.

Edited September 7, 2010 by Ant

[Barry Bridges]

Im hoping end of season/beginning of next we can have a thread like this about Kalou and Mikel so I can pull out my " I knew they would come good!"

[Zola's Love Child]

Im hoping end of season/beginning of next we can have a thread like this about Kalou and Mikel so I can pull out my " I knew they would come good!"

Theres already a 'kind of' thread for Kalou, going back to about May I think it is, praising his development.

[Preferisco la Coppa]

Malouda was one of the hottest left wingers around when we signed him (I distinctly remember he was rated 87 in Fifa 07!! :D )...he was my first choice replacement for Robben!! Obviously turned out crap in his first 2 seasons, but he was always a top player.

It's interesting to see how his game's progressed though...he was very much a traditional speedy winger with a good cross while he was at Lyon, I think he's lost a bit of that pace and has become more of an inside left type of player than a winger now.

[MHL_blue]

I belong with the humble pie eating gang. Would've traded him for anyone plus cash the first two seasons and thought "Oh, my word" when Hiddink fielded him. Pretty stuffed now from eating all the pie, but what a player he's turning out to be. And he's on fire at the moment, so long may it continune.

[PloKoon13]

If I'm entirely honest I thought Malouda was sh*te at the time, but believed he would eventually come good. I don't know what camp that puts me in...

Either way, I'm very happy that we have one of the world's top left wingers in our team and look forward to him knocking ten shades of sh*t out of Lars Jacobsen.

[Granticus]

I'm with the camp that always thought that he would come good. I too remember his first few games for us, and always tipped him for greater things.

[amART]

one of the greatest at this moment.

[evissy]

Remember how impatient we were with him? I tried to give him a chance but after awhile I started to question his importance to the team and wanted him out... He misfired for almost two seasons and then came Guus and turned it all around. We have to give time to our newer players. Kalou and Mikel have also matured to a level you can call them Chelsea regulars and they have been here forever it seems.