One of the key tenets of Jos? Mourinho’s managerial philosophy is to get his entire squad in place on the first day of pre-season training, but as Chelsea began their tour to the United States at the UCLA campus yesterday, the atmosphere was dominated by the traditional summer talk of comings and goings.
Arjen Robben admitted for the first time that his contract talks are not going well and refused to say if he would start the season at Stamford Bridge, while Claude Makelele was equally noncommittal when discussing his future.
In an ideal world, Chelsea would retain both players, but not at any price. With two years remaining on his £60,000-a-week contract, Robben has rejected the club’s offer of an improved five-year deal and is considering a move to Real Madrid. Chelsea are determined to maintain greater financial discipline as they pursue their goal of breaking even in the next three years and are unlikely to return with a better offer.
“I don’t know about a new contract,” Robben said. “I haven’t signed a new contract yet and it hasn’t gone well. We’ll see what the future brings, I don’t know. The first Champions League game is a long way away.”
Robben rejected the opportunity to talk to Real after the Spanish club made him one of their three transfer targets last summer, but he admitted to taking their interest more seriously this time around. The Holland winger believes that he will have a role to play in the games on this tour, however, starting with 45 minutes in Saturday’s Disney Cup match against Club Am?rica in San Francisco.
Advertisement
“For any individual player it’s always good if there’s interest from any big club in the world,” Robben said. “It shows you’re a good player and I see it as a compliment.
“We have six games until the first day of the season, but if I don’t play in those matches, that’s football. Next Saturday everyone will play 45 minutes, so I expect to feature. I travelled here and this was the first day of training. I’m really happy to be back after seven weeks off, starting afresh.”
Makelele’s contract talks have broken down after he rejected a 12-month extension to the year remaining on his deal towards the end of last season. The midfield player, 34, has fallen behind John Obi Mikel in the pecking order and will not get the new two-year deal he is seeking. Villarreal and Fenerbahçe have expressed an interest in signing the Frenchman, who refused to commit his future to Chelsea.
“I’ve heard all the rumours,” he said. “I have a year left, but at the moment my objective is to regain the title.”
Steve Sidwell and Tal Ben Haim trained with their new teammates for the first time yesterday, while Florent Malouda will do likewise tomorrow after arriving late last night. Alex will join them next week after confirming one of the worst kept secrets in football – that he has agreed to return to Chelsea. The Brazil defender signed for the club from Santos in 2004 but has spent the past three seasons on loan at PSV Eindhoven.
Advertisement
Frank Arnesen, the Chelsea director of scouting and youth development, recommended the club take him back last season, only to be overruled by Mourinho, and Alex is aware that he has been the subject of internal tension at the club. Mourinho has reservations about his lack of pace, but has conceded that he could prove to be a valuable squad player, deputising for John Terry if necessary and adding strength to his defence in difficult away fixtures.
“Next season I will play in the Premier League with Chelsea because I have spoken with Mourinho and he has confirmed that he has agreed to the transfer,” Alex said. “Now playing in England is a reality. In Holland with PSV I learnt much about the game and this is the moment for me to join a superior club.
“It will not be easy to obtain a place in the XI fighting with great players and men like John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, but I am prepared for the biggest challenge in my life. I have shown that I am worth a place in the starting XI for Brazil and Chelsea is my next challenge. Chelsea suffered problems in the position of central defender last season and hopefully my arrival will reinforce the defensive line.”