Ramires: Ex-Arsenal duo key to Chelsea move

News
By published

Brazil midfielder Ramires has revealed that he asked for the advice of two former Arsenal players before deciding on a move to Premier League champions Chelsea.

The Samba Boy is believed to be on the brink of completing an £18.3 million move from Benfica.

And he has credited compatriots - and ex-Emirates Stadium duo - Gilberto Silva and Julio Baptista for convincing him to join the Blues from the Portuguese champions.

GEAR:Get the new Chelsea kits

Silva made 170 league appearances for Arsene Wenger's side from 2002-08, while Baptista spent the 2006/07 campaign on loan with the Gunners as part of the deal that took Jose Reyes to Real Madrid.

Ramires, 23, admitted he had trouble deciding whether to join Carlo Ancelotti's side, but that former Gunners Silva and Baptista convinced him that a transfer to England would benefit him.

“Gilberto, Julio Baptista and others gave me confidence by insisting I must accept this chance,” he said in The Sun.

"In the end, the Chelsea proposition was impossible to reject - not just because of the money but the chance to spend every day at one of the best clubs in the world.

"As a boy in Brazil I watched the Premier League and I remember how Chelsea and Manchester United played such attractive football.

"This summer has been a dream - the Portuguese title with Benfica, the call of Brazil, the World Cup and now the jump into the Premier League."

Follow FFT.com on Twitter
Join FFT.com on Facebook

Gregg Davies
Gregg Davies

Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.