Arjen Robben has explained his decision to choose Chelsea over Manchester United, despite having a dinner with Sir Alex Ferguson. The 40-year-old officially retired from football in July 2021 after returning to the sport for a second time. He signed with Chelsea in July 2004 for £12million after playing for PSV Eindhoven. During his time with the Blues, Robben played in 106 matches, scoring 19 goals and assisting 21 times. His contributions helped Jose Mourinho win consecutive Premier League titles, two League Cups, and an FA Cup. His outstanding displays in the Premier League led to Real Madrid’s £24 million signing of him. Following his success in Spain, Robben moved to Bayern Munich where he became one of the best wingers in history. The ex-Netherlands national team player played in over 300 matches for the German powerhouse, winning numerous titles including seven Bundesliga championships, five DFB-Pokals, four DFL-Supercups, a UEFA Super Cup, and a Champions League title. Erik ten Hag is eagerly awaiting the return of his key Manchester United player who has been out with an injury. Robben secured his place in history, but things could have taken a different turn if he had chosen to sign with Manchester United instead of Chelsea. In a 2018 interview with FourFourTwo, he discussed the reasons why his potential transfer to Old Trafford fell through. Robben recalled a positive conversation he had with Sir Alex Ferguson during a dinner in Manchester, where they talked about both football and life. “I also visited the training ground and everything seemed good, but when I returned to PSV, there was no follow-up and the deal fell through.”
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