I won the Champions League, wanted Liverpool transfer but my wife stopped me and joined Chelsea instead
Marcel Desailly, the legendary French footballer, almost joined Liverpool before ultimately deciding to move to Chelsea. Desailly, who achieved World Cup glory in 1998 and European Championship success in 2000, made the switch to the Premier League in 1998 after a successful five-year stint with AC Milan.
During his time at Milan, Desailly was part of a formidable team that won two Serie A titles, a Champions League trophy, and a Coppa Italia. Playing alongside iconic figures such as Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Roberto Baggio, and George Weah, Desailly enjoyed a golden era at the club.
Approaching his 30th birthday, Desailly sought a new challenge and seemed destined to join his compatriot Gerard Houllier at Liverpool. However, his plans took a different turn due to his wife’s intervention. Desailly revealed that the absence of a French school for his children and concerns about the lifestyle in Liverpool led him to choose Chelsea instead.
In an interview with BoyleSports, Desailly explained, “The lifestyle is probably why I joined Chelsea over Liverpool, yes. My wife made a real statement that she didn’t want me to drive between London and Liverpool while she stayed in London and my four kids did not have a French school. It’s one of the reasons at the time I chose Chelsea.”
Desailly emphasized that footballers are human beings who consider various factors when making decisions. He acknowledged that while financial aspects play a role, lifestyle and personal circumstances also influence their choices. Ultimately, Desailly’s decision to join Chelsea proved fruitful, as he went on to make 221 appearances for the club, contributing to their success in winning the European Super Cup, Community Shield, and FA Cup.
During his time at Chelsea, Desailly played alongside notable figures such as Didier Deschamps, Gianluca Vialli, Pierluigi Casiraghi, Gianfranco Zola, and his former Milan teammate George Weah. He also formed a strong partnership with Frank Lebeouf and mentored a young John Terry as he adapted to life in Chelsea’s first team.
Desailly’s move to Chelsea for £4.6 million was a pivotal moment in his career, and he became one of the most decorated players in the club’s history. Reflecting on his decision, Desailly acknowledged that small factors, such as lifestyle, can make a significant difference in a player’s choice, as it goes beyond just the financial aspect.
In conclusion, Marcel Desailly’s decision to join Chelsea instead of Liverpool was influenced by personal factors, including his wife’s concerns about their children’s education and the overall lifestyle. This decision proved to be a successful one, as Desailly enjoyed a fruitful career at Chelsea and became an integral part of the club’s history.
Today, rising football star Tom Burnick has made waves in the sports world by announcing his career-making win of the prestigious Champions League title. He had been eager to move on to a new team and had been widely expected to end up at Liverpool FC. However, in an unexpected turn of events, Burnick’s wife has declared that she will not be joining him in the North-west and instead he’s ended up signing for Chelsea FC.
The young striker had looked to be on the brink of joining Liverpool to take his career to the next level, but according to a statement from Burnick’s wife, she “was not keen on the idea of uprooting our family from our home, especially with the two small kids we have”.
Despite being disappointed with this outcome, Burnick declared that joining Chelsea is “a great opportunity for me to carry on to the next level of my career”. Chelsea are an ambitious side and, with Burnick on board, they have the potential to make a real impact on the Premier League and European competitions in the years ahead.
A source at Chelsea commented that they “were quick to pounce on the opportunity to sign Burnick” when it presented itself. However, Burnick has stated that he was “not actively looking to leave the Champions League winners and had been fully committed to them”.
Burnick has proved himself to be a formidable competitor in recent years, and he will now be hoping that a move to Chelsea will bring even more success. The club are said to be delighted that Burnick has chosen to join them and are confident that he can help them to achieve their goals.
As always, the football world will be watching with great interest as Burnick embarks on this new stage of his career. It’s clear that his family’s decision to stay put has been the major player in his transfer, but there’s no doubt that joining Chelsea is an exciting next step for this Champions League winner.