‘If you remember’… Former French international says he chose to join Chelsea over Real Madrid

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Former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda had other options before he moved to Stamford Bridge back in 2007.

Chelsea signed Florent Malouda from Lyon, but the Frenchman has revealed on The Obi One Podcast that he could have joined Real Madrid instead.

While Real Madrid are arguably the biggest club in the world and the most successful team in Champions League history, Malouda will have no regrets over signing for Chelsea.

His time in west London was successful, with the retired France international winning practically everything there, including Europe’s elite competition.

Florent Malouda could have joined Real Madrid

When asked what other options were available to him before his move from Lyon to Chelsea on The Obi One Podcast, Malouda said: “Real Madrid.

“And if you remember Arjen Robben was at Chelsea, but I really wanted to come to Chelsea because I knew some of the guys with Michael Essien, [Claude] Makelele, all of those guys, and I was coming sometimes to watch the game. So I was feeling close to Chelsea.”

Chelsea fortunate Florent Malouda chose them

Malouda proved to be a very good signing for Chelsea, making just under 230 appearances for the club.

Across those appearances, he scored 45 goals. During his time at Stamford Bridge, the Blues won one Premier League title, three FA Cups and the Champions League.

Looking back, Malouda was probably quite underrated. In the 2010/11 Premier League campaign, he scored 13 goals in 38 outings. It would be a miracle if any of Chelsea’s current wide men could get that this season.

Raheem Sterling used to get past that at Manchester City, but the England international has not really had his goalscoring boots on since arriving at Chelsea.

Last season, Sterling only scored six times in the top flight, but he already has four goals this term, so hopefully he can reach double figures.

If the 28-year-old does and helps Chelsea qualify for the Champions League, then maybe fans will start to appreciate him the same way they appreciated some of their former wingers like Malouda.

Next up for Sterling, who was recently praised by one BBC Sport pundit, and Chelsea is a trip to Newcastle.