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Meireles on leaving Reds: ‘I’m no Judas’

Comment: 0 September 8th, 2011 by: admin

WHAT do Fernando Torres and Raul Meireles have in common?

They were both from Liverpool but are now donning the Chelsea colours in the Premier League.

Torres hogged the headlines with his record 50-million pound transfer last January, while Meireles created quite a stir recently when it was his time to relocate.

“I’m no Judas,’’ said Meireles, referring to his 12-million pound move to the Blues.

Meireles had insisted he really never wanted to part ways with the Reds but he eventually joined the Blues when he learned he would be sold anyway.

The midfielder’s relocation sealed minutes before the transfer window slammed shut last week reunited him with former Porto manager Andre Villas-Boas, now the Chelsea boss.

Meireles’ transfer recalled similarities with Torres’ linking up with the Blues as Liverpool, sensing that a player is trying to force a move out, reported in both instances that a transfer request had been agreed upon with.

The 28-year-old Meireles, who joined Liverpool from Porto during last summer’s transfer window, said on Chelsea’s official website on Wednesday that when he was at Porto he knew the club had wanted to sell him. “I only had to wait for the right choice.’’

He stated he made that right choice last year when he joined Liverpool. “This year though was different because I knew that I didn’t want to leave Liverpool.’’

Meireles also stressed that it was Villas-Boas who convinced him to finally join Chelsea.

Chelsea targeted Meireles when they felt they would not be getting the services of Tottenham Hotspur attacking midfielder Luka Modric.

Aside from having worked under Villas-Boas before, Meireles also knows Chelsea’s Portuguese stars like Jose Bosingwa, Hilario and Paulo Ferreira, as well as Brazilians Ramires and David Luiz.

“I know that Chelsea is a great club, one of the best in the world. It is not too difficult to convince me to come,’’ he said.

Like Torres, Meireles had proven to be a problem for Chelsea in past tournaments. He scored against the Blues in a Champions League tie at Porto four years ago. He also helped the Reds beat the Blues the last term as he netted the winner at Stamford Bridge at the same time spoiling Torres’ debut.

Though not known as a prolific scorer, Meireles is seen to add more creativity to Chelsea’s playmaking.

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