Real Betis winger Joaquin turned down the chance to join Chelsea in 2006 despite there being a €36m agreement in place, according to the player’s father.
Joaquin was in his first spell at Betis at the time, having initially joined the club in 2000, and his performances had caught the eye of then-Premier League champions Chelsea.
The winger would leave in the summer of 2006, but joined fellow Spanish side Valencia, with whom he spent five years before joining Malaga.
But according to Joaquin’s father, Aurelio Sanchez, the winger decided against following the money.
“The signing for Chelsea was done,” Aurelio Sanchez told El Espanol (via Football Espana).
“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.”
Now 37, Joaquin is still an important figure for Betis, making eight appearances for the club this season and scoring once.
Joaquin’s career to date
While Joaquin’s career could have gone so differently had he moved to Chelsea in 2006, with the London club going on to win multiple Premier League titles, FA Cups, League Cups and European trophies, the Spaniard has still enjoyed an impressive time in football.
The winger has played 671 games in total for Betis, Valencia, Malaga and Fiorentina, scoring 88 goals in the process.
Joaquin has also won the Copa del Rey twice in his career, once with Betis in 2005 and another three years later at Valencia.
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