Chelsea FC, on deadline day, confirmed the signing of Portuguese midfielder, Raul Meireles, putting pen to paper on a four year deal.
The midfielder, who can play central midfield, and even on the left of midfield, and became Villas-Boas’ sixth summer signing, following Juan Mata, Romelu Lukaku, Oriol Romeu, Thibaul Courtois and Ulises DaVilla’s arrivals.
Meireles’s arrival came after a colossal deadline day, in which Meireles handed a transfer request in to Liverpool, with only 30-odd minutes to go, however, the Blue’s interest in the midfielder had been made public throughout the summer, with his name being side-to-side with Luka Modric’s name also.
Meireles, will join up with former team mate, Fernando Torres, and will hopefully offer Chelsea’s midfield both a more attacking, as well as a more defensive option, one that has been left void with the unfortunate injury to Michael Essien.
Meireles, a Portuguese international, made his name during successful spells at Portugal’s prestigious team, FC Porto, when in 2010, upon a string of impressive displays at the 2010 world cup in South Africa, Liverpool pounced for his signature.
He made 44 appearences for the Merseyside outfit, scoring 5 goals in total, even scoring the only and winning goal against the Blue’s in last years meeting at the Bridge, before making a last minute move to the kings road boys in blue.
Here’s a clip of Meireles’ successful first year stint at Liverpool –
Welcome to Chelsea FC, Raul Mereiles!
By Warwick Tuatara
A huge mistake by Liverpool to let Raul Meireles leave as he would have offered the reds so much more toward their goal of a top four spot than either Henderson or the over rated/hyped Shelvey. Voted the PFA fans player of the year last term, his one touch style of football will blend in well at SB and AVB will no doubt be delighted with his capture at the last minute. I'm really looking forward to seeing Meireles and Mata in the same team as they are both extremely talented players, full of running and can both open up the opposition with defence splitting passes. All we need now is for Torres to get his confidence back and to start scoring regularly.
i couldn't agree more Alan! a few people i know, Chelsea fans and none Chelsea fans, said it was a stupid signing and we don't need him, but i think we've signed one last years best midfielders and a great replacement for Essien in the team…