Filipe Luis has moved to explain to the Atletico Madrid fans why he wants to accept the offer from Chelsea and move to the Premier League.
It was confirmed yesterday that the clubs had come to an agreement over the sale of the Brazilian, although the move still depends on Filipe agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.
AS reports Filipe as speaking in great detail about the circumstances of the move, the future for Atletico as they lose a number of last season’s title-winning squad, his relationship with Coach Diego Simeone, and why Chelsea are the right club for him.
“I have seen people annoyed in recent months because I didn’t say anything,” Filipe said.
“But I thought if I spoke I could damage my image and especially the club. My decision was to talk when it was all over. I might have been wrong. But that was my decision.
“The club will always remain and players will come and go. The club and the fans remain. There were players who were not the property of Atletico, players whose contracts ended…there are players like me who wanted to change League.
“I’ve always liked Chelsea. I’ve left but [Guilherme] Siqueira will do as well or better.
“The club and I sat down to talk about my future. I never thought about leaving Atletico…the decision came with the offer from Chelsea.
“A footballer’s career is short and I wanted to finish it spectacularly. I want my career to be complete. I thank that the club have helped me.
“Simeone is more than a Coach. We’re very close, like a father. I sat with him and told him how I felt. It hurts me to leave but he understood that it was something stuck in my head and I didn’t want to backtrack.
“I have only words of affection because this week has been training as one. I haven’t felt separated and I thank [Simeone] for all you have done for me.
“I’ve always liked Chelsea. I see a lot of the Premier League, [London] is a city I love and it’s a club in which it shows that people are close.
“When we played against Chelsea in the Champions League I felt good on their pitch and when the offer came I thought it was the ideal team to play in England.”
