Albert Ferrer came up through the ranks of Barcelona’s academy and broke into the first team in 1990, where he was a regular figure in the starting lineup until 1998.
The then right-back, who was born in Barcelona, had a lifetime contract with the Catalan club and had planned to retire with them. However, things didn’t go as per the plan and he joined Chelsea in 1998 and ended his playing career with them in 2003.
Spanish newspaper AS sat down for an interview with the 49-year-old and asked the reason behind his decision to leave.
“Well, yes, but it was also something I saw coming. I left in the summer of 1998, but since the end of Athens (1994) we felt that what had to do away with the Dream Team and Johan Cruyff’s team was dismantling year after year,” he said.
“There was no order, but there was an intention of renewal. In my case it was [Louis] van Gaal who declared me transferable. I had a lifetime contract, I could have stayed, but when they tell you that you don’t count…”
Van Gaal had two spells at Barcelona, with the first between 1997 and 2000, during which Ferrer was moved out of the club. 
When AS asked Ferrer as how the Chelsea transfer materialised, he said: “I don’t remember the first contact, it was a call from Gianluca Vialli, who was the coach.
“After talking to him, I didn’t think about it. Chelsea was not what it is now, but they came from winning the UEFA Super Cup, it was a historic Premier League club and the option of living in London convinced me.”
Ferrer went on to make over 100 appearances for Chelsea.
