New Chelsea goalkeeper Emi Martinez has named two people who convinced him to move to Stamford Bridge.
He said club legends Petr Cech and John Terry influenced his decision.
Chelsea confirmed their 12th signing of the summer transfer window with the acquisition of the World Cup champion.
The Blues had paused activities in the transfer window and concentrated on offloading players before the deadline. However, this strategy shifted when Martinez became available from Aston Villa.
Following Robert Sanchez’s errors against Fulham, Xabi Alonso opted to secure a new goalkeeper, leading to the signing of Martinez.
Alonso has since informed Sanchez that he must seek a new club before the transfer window closes.
Chelsea secured the services of the 33-year-old for a modest fee of £7.5m, despite interest from several clubs this summer, including Juventus.
In his first interview as a Chelsea player, the former Arsenal goalkeeper revealed that he reached out to two of the club’s most iconic figures, Petr Cech and John Terry.
Martinez worked with Cech during the latter’s tenure at Arsenal, while Terry served as an assistant coach at Aston Villa after ending his playing career at the club.
Martinez said he had spoken with both legends: “I worked with Petr Cech, one of the best goalkeepers in Chelsea’s history. I spoke with JT, a legend of the game at Chelsea. Obviously, they speak highly of the club. I want to be part of that club, with them.”
