The former Liverpool star opened up on how one factor played a huge part in his career trajectory
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 26: Raul Meireles of Liverpool celebrates with team mates Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard after John Pantsil of Fulham scored an own goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Fulham at Anfield on January 26, 2011 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Raul Meireles scored five goals for Liverpool(Image: 2011 Getty Images)
View 3 Images
Former Liverpool star Raul Meireles previously insisted he didn't actually want to leave Liverpool for Chelsea in 2011. However, the Blues' appointment of Andre Villas-Boas as manager changed everything.
Liverpool will welcome Chelsea to Anfield on Saturday, with the two clubs often facing off in the transfer market over the years as well as on the pitch. One famous instance was centred around Meireles.
Meireles joined the Reds, then under Roy Hodgson, from Porto in August 2010 for £11.5million. The Portuguese star made 44 appearances for Liverpool, scoring five goals.
FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page
It appeared Liverpool had found something of a midfield linchpin with the player bringing a subtle guile and goals to the team's engine room. That was until Chelsea, fresh under the stewardship of Villas Boas, who had worked with Meireles at Porto, decided to swoop for the player on the summer deadline day of 2011 for £12m.
The transfer drew eerie parallels with Fernando Torres' £50m move to Chelsea, which occurred six months earlier, with Liverpool having reported in both cases that a transfer request had been submitted.
Raul Meireles of Liverpool celebrates after scoring the only goal during a Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on February 6, 2011 in London, England.
Raul Meireles scored against Chelsea shortly before making a move to Stamford Bridge(Image: 2011 Liverpool FC/Getty)
View 3 Images
Yet Meireles was adamant there was no bad blood involved this time and that it was purely down to the chance to work with Villas-Boas once again.
Speaking after his move to Stamford Bridge, he said: “When I was in Porto, I knew that I wanted to go and the club wanted to sell me, and I only had to wait for the right choice.
“I made the right choice last year to come to England and to come to Liverpool and this year was different because I knew that I didn’t want to leave Liverpool. I felt that the new owners didn’t want to sell me, but when I knew that Chelsea and Andre wanted me, it convinced me.
“It was strange, because I knew of the interest of Chelsea, and the interest of the coach, and it was a pleasure to come to this club but it was strange because it was on the last day. The people think that I wanted to leave and it is only because Chelsea wanted me. For Andre to want me, that is why I wanted to go.
Raul Meireles looks on for Chelsea
Raul Meireles joined Chelsea a year after signing for Liverpool(Image: Getty)
View 3 Images
“I have a lot of friends here, Portuguese players that I know from Porto and the national team, and Jose Bosingwa helped me a lot in these first days. I know that Chelsea is a great club, one of the best clubs in the world, and it is not too difficult to convince me to come."
Like Torres, Meireles arrived at Chelsea having proven a thorn in their side down the years. He scored against them in a Champions League tie while at Porto and helped Liverpool do the double over the west London side the season before he left, scoring the winner at Stamford Bridge.
Meireles enjoyed success at Chelsea, winning the FA Cup and Champions League with the Blues. But he was sold to Turkish side Fenerbahce for £8m in September 2012 after Villas-Boas was dismissed by the Chelsea board several months earlier.
Buy Blood Red, our monthly Liverpool FC print publication for just £3.50 by clicking here
Content Image
Content Image