ARJEN ROBBEN HAS BEEN told to report for Chelsea’s preseason tour to the United States today, despite the club’s intention to sell him to Real Madrid. The imminent arrival of Florent Malouda, the France winger, from Lyons means that Robben can leave Stamford Bridge. The Holland winger had failed to agree a new contract, with talks between his agent and Peter Kenyon, the club’s chief executive, breaking down last week.
Malouda will travel to London today to undergo a medical and discuss personal terms after Chelsea announced last night that a fee, believed to be about £13.5 million, had been agreed with Lyons. Malouda should sign a four-year deal this week, allowing him to play a part in the summer tour.
Robben has been instructed to join his teammates on the flight here to Los Angeles. Chelsea will play three matches in the US, against Club Am?rica, the Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Los Angeles Galaxy in a game in which David Beckham will make his debut for the American club.
Robben is unlikely to play in any of the matches as a precaution against injury, but he will still be required to train on a daily basis. The 23-year-old had initially hoped to stay with Chelsea and sign a new five-year contract this summer, but could not agree terms and has resigned himself to joining Real.
Also making the trip to Los Angeles will be Avram Grant, who was yesterday confirmed as Chelsea’s new director of football, as revealed by The Times in January.
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In a more surprising development, the former Israel national coach has been given a position on the board, emphasising the strength of his relationship with Roman Abramovich, the owner, and representing a further blow to the standing of Jos? Mourinho. The manager has not been close to his employer of late and threatened to resign when Grant’s recruitment was first discussed last season. “Grant will be responsible for liaison on, and coordination of, football matters across the various areas of Chelsea,” a club statement read. “He’ll also sit on the board and report to chief executive Peter Kenyon. His experience and knowledge will play an important role in the formulation of overall football policy.”
In an indication of his diminished power-base, Mourinho has reluctantly accepted Grant’s arrival, although he will not take kindly to a new structure in which the Israeli can effectively report to the board above his head. Mourinho was also against Abramovich’s recruitment of Frank Arnesen as chief scout and director of youth development two years ago, but was powerless to prevent an appointment that led to a significant increase in internal tensions at the club.
Such tensions almost led to Mourinho’s departure last season, but Kenyon said that the problems have been resolved. “I’m confident that aspect of controversy around Chelsea won’t be seen again,” he said.
“We’ve all spent a lot of time on why the breakdown occurred and it’s all been addressed in the close season. Nobody wants a repeat and it took too much time and effort away from Chelsea. We’ve got a great football club and a great set-up, and my disappointment from last year is that it took the edge off a great season.”
Kenyon was less certain about his ability to convince John Terry and Frank Lamp-ard to sign new contracts, with the club locked in a stalemate in negotiations with both players. “If you’re asking me, ‘would it be nice to get it done next week?’, yes, it would,” Kenyon said.
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“There have been discussions ongoing, they have been good discussions and carried out in good faith by all parties. I’ve got faith in the players’ professionalism not to let it affect the way they play. But at the end of the day, I can’t force anyone to sign a new contract.”