PSV Eindhoven director of football Marcel Brands has admitted he told Noni Madueke’s father they wouldn’t sell him in January, before Chelsea simply offered too much to refuse.
Madueke completed a surprise move to Chelsea last month, joining the Blues in a €35m deal in the middle of the month as one of numerous signings to arrive at Stamford Bridge.
The move was very much a surprise one, with many questioning why Chelsea were paying such a sum for a player who had only managed five Eredivisie appearances all season and one goal in them.
Reports in the Netherlands made it clear that PSV had no intention of selling Madueke initially, particularly after losing Cody Gakpo to Liverpool at the beginning of the window.
However, the sum offered by Chelsea ended up changing their minds and Brands has now confirmed as much, explaining that he had initially told Madueke’s entourage that he was not for sale.
“We did know his personal situation, that he very much wanted to go back to England. I literally said to his father: ‘Not this winter, because his value is not such that we want to do a transfer with him’.
“But at some point, bids started coming in. First 25, then 28, 32, 35, and then it gets close to that €40m. Then we asked ourselves internally whether we should hold it back any longer.
“You are happy that you were able to take the financial pressure off for a while, but as a footballer it hurts that you lose two of your best players.”
