Relative of former Spain star reveals collapsed €39m Chelsea move

Chelsea had the opportunity to sign former Spain winger Joaquin Sanchez in 2006, it has been revealed.

Joaquin – then playing for Real Betis – had reached an agreement with the Premier League club, but moved to Valencia instead.

His father, Aurelio Sanchez, told El Espanol: “The signing for Chelsea was done.

“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.”

Chelsea signed Salomon Kalou instead that summer, for a fraction of the price they had agreed for Joaquin. Joaquin returned to Betis in 2015 after a stint in Italy with Fiorentina.

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