Chelsea ace's agent reveals how he ended up at Stamford Bridge despite their inferior project. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)
The agent of Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo has revealed new details on the transfer saga that saw his client eventually pick the Blues over Premier League rivals Liverpool.
In an interview with Ecuadorian channel Football sin Cassette via Youtube(h/t Evening Standard) Manuel Sierra admitted Liverpool were the “more stable” option but their late bid caught Caicedo’s camp off guard as he appeared to inch closer to Chelsea.
The Blues first bid for Caicedo in January but couldn’t meet Brighton’s asking price. The Blues revived interest in the summer but were prompted into drastic action by Liverpool’s shock offer before sealing a record £115 million deal.
‘Liverpool were always interested. We had meetings between January and May but since May we didn’t hear from them. Of course we were surprised that suddenly they appeared with [an offer] that they had said they couldn’t do. What happened is that in January [Chelsea] couldn’t pay, They couldn’t go crazy because they had to go with one or the other, they couldn’t sign both [Enzo Fernandez and Caicedo] and I didn’t know what Brighton were going to ask for.
Liverpool’s unexpected bid briefly turned Moises Caicedo‘s head given their pedigree and Jurgen Klopp’s personal appeal. But Chelsea requested time to match the offer, then went on to outbid the Reds. In many ways, it is a testament to our commitment that we went toe to toe against Liverpool and ultimately came out on top.
“It is very complicated, imagine that Jurgen Klopp is writing to you, that Liverpool are calling you, we are talking about something very big, one of the best teams in the world just like Chelsea – and with a more established and more stabilised project than what Chelsea have today,”
However, Caicedo felt obligated to join Chelsea after prolonged talks and having given them his word. The agent maintained the Blues showed steadfast interest compared to his interaction with Liverpool after initial meetings. It is good to see that players still want to move to us despite the recent struggles.
Sierra also mentioned how Caicedo finally signed for Chelsea when the Blues came with an offer that surprassed the one the Reds had on the table. We now have a stellar player on our ranks and the onus is on the management to get the best out of him.
“When Liverpool’s offer arrived, Brighton were asked for time so that Chelsea could match it, they did, they surpassed it and he ended up at Chelsea because he had given his word to Chelsea for quite some time.”
In the end, Chelsea’s patient approach paid dividends. Their willingness to stump up record sums showed Caicedo the club’s firm belief in him. While tempted by Liverpool, the midfielder stayed loyal to the Blues for their unwavering pursuit.
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