Former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda has explained why he turned down a move to Liverpool before he signed for the Londoners in 2007. The Frenchman was a top target for the Reds under Rafael Benitez, but spurned the opportunity to move to Anfield in other to head to Stamford Bridge.
France international Malouda had impressed for Lyon in Ligue 1 when the Reds made their move as Benitez looked for the width he needed in his side to mount a title challenge, however the lure of the capital proved too much and the winger instead chose Chelsea, where he won the Premier League, Champions League and three FA Cups.
However it could have been different had Malouda’s boss at Lyon, the late Gerard Houllier, had his way.
Malouda told Coin Poker: “Liverpool were really interested in signing me and I almost joined them. At the time, Rafa Benitez was the manager, and my manager at Lyon was Gerard Houllier. There were talks between the two clubs and Gerard really wanted me to join Liverpool because of his experience managing the club.
“I didn’t ever agree a contract with Liverpool. Lyon and Liverpool agreed a transfer fee, but I didn’t ever agree contract terms and, I felt that there were too many people trying to get involved in the deal and push me towards Liverpool, which I really didn’t like.
“Chelsea came in for me and it was clear from day one that Mourinho really wanted to sign me. It was an exciting offer to have because I knew so much about the club because of Didier and there were also a lot of players in the squad that I knew. As soon as they came in for me, I knew that they were the club that I wanted to join.
“I spoke with Lyon and informed them of my decision, explaining why I would prefer to join Chelsea. It was really, really close.
“Obviously, it was flattering to have two giants like Liverpool and Chelsea interested in you. Real Madrid also made me an offer that summer as well, but Gerard Houllier kept telling me that I needed to experience playing in the Premier League.
“Liverpool were really competitive at the time. They had just lost in the Champions League final. It was a good option, but Chelsea were always my preference. It was easy for me to adapt there because I knew so many of the players at the club and had a lot of friends there.”
And Malouda, who retired in 2018 after further spells with Trabzonspor, Metz, Delhi Dynamos and FC Differdange 03, has been impressed with Arne Slot’s management of the Reds.
He said: “I was expecting Arne Slot to have a tough time, because taking over from Jurgen Klopp at a top club like Liverpool is not easy. I’m impressed by what he’s doing, the way he adapted to the Premier League and the way he’s performing. He just arrived in a new league, with a new club, and he’s not asking for time.
“Most of the time, managers ask for time. Chelsea have had this issue with some of their recent managers, but Slot has just come in and got on with things. He’s came in and kept Liverpool competitive without making too many changes – I think he deserves a lot of credit for that because he’s filling absolutely massive shoes at Liverpool. I’ve been impressed by everything about him.
“To have got off to the start that he has done, at a top club like Liverpool, doing things his way, it’s been a perfect start for him.”
