Ashley Cole reveals he turned down Real Madrid and Barcelona for Chelsea after feeling “underappreciated” at Arsenal | OneFootball

Chelsea legend Ashley Cole has opened up on the defining moment of his career, explaining the reason behind his move to Stamford Bridge in 2006.

The former England international has revealed that he felt “underappreciated” at Arsenal, which opened the door to one of the most talked-about transfers in Chelsea history.

In the final stretch of his Arsenal career, Cole became frustrated with contract negotiations that dragged on without any real progress.

That pushed him to consider a fresh start abroad.

Both Real Madrid and Barcelona were interested, but his personal life and a timely approach from Chelsea ultimately steered him across London.

“I felt a bit underappreciated and undervalued,” Cole said on The Overlap.

“So that’s where my head and heart was at. I was like, ‘You’ve taken my love away,’ and it didn’t need to be like that.

“From what I was told and heard, I was going to Real Madrid. I was having conversations with agents because, at that point, I could pre-sign for a team abroad.

“So, it was Madrid and kind of Barcelona. I don’t know how deep it was. Things changed, I got married, and didn’t actually want to leave the country in the end.

“Then, around a year and a half later, I remember sitting in my box with my agent and him calling me outside and going, ‘You’re never going to believe who this is, it’s Chelsea.

He added that Chelsea offered him “maybe five or six grand more” than what Arsenal were paying.

Cole ended up completing a £5 million move to the Bridge, with William Gallas heading the other way in one of the most polarising deals in Premier League history.

However, that decision turned out to be a masterstroke, as Cole went on to enjoy eight trophy-laden years with Chelsea, becoming one of the most decorated players in the club’s history.

He made 337 appearances for the Blues, winning the Premier League, four FA Cups, the Champions League, and the Europa League.

Cole was also inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame and has since been joined by a host of other Chelsea legends, including Eden Hazard.