Real Betis winger Joaquin Sanchez turned down a move to Chelsea in 2006 despite a €36m agreement for the player, says his father.
After six seasons in the Betis first-team Joaquin – who returned to Betis in 2015 – eventually moved to Valencia in a €25m deal.
“The signing for Chelsea was done,” Aurelio Sanchez told El Espanol, in quotes carried by El Mundo Deportivo.
“Betis would receive €36m plus another €3m for a friendly, €6m per season for Joaquin, who would sign five years. I would take €3m and Jorge Mendes €3m for the operation.
“He was in Madrid and I called him to take the first plane to Seville, which he had to sign.
“(Betis president Manuel Ruiz de) Lopera called me crazy: ‘What happened to the child?' He was raffled to all of Europe and he lost his love for Betis.
“He could have made a fortune, but he never moved the money.”
