Andr SchA?rrle became second placed Wolfsburg’s record signing this winter as the club paid Chelsea a sum in the region of A?24.6million. The 24 year old signed for the Bundesliga outfit on deadline day, after weeks of suggestive reports. SchA?rrle struggled to make an impact this season under Jose Mourinho and his sale was used to bring in Fiorentina and Colombia winger Juan Cuadrado
SchA?rrle revealed that he wanted to stay at Chelsea, but was looking forward to playing first-team football consistently at Wolfsburg.
a I wanted to stay but the last weeks or last month I tended towards changing something because I wanted to do what is fun for me and that is to play football. I could only do it briefly at Chelsea in the past weeks.a
SchA?rrle joined Chelsea in 2013 from Bayer Leverkusen but failed to earn a regular first-team place under Mourinho, as he couldn’t displace Oscar, Eden Hazard and Willian from the attack. The German international still managed to score 14 goals for the Blues and said he has no regrets about moving there from Bayer Leverkusen in 2013 for A?18m.
a I will never regret [Chelsea],a he said. a I still love this club, the staff are amazing. I developed my game, I improved myself there. I was a different player when I came to Chelsea. It helped me a lot.
a My first season was very good, then there was the World Cup. I was a starter at the beginning of the season until an illness moved me behind. But the team continued to win so yesa I am still confident and know what I can do.
A lot is expected from SchA?rrle at Wolfsburg as he became the club record signing for the club, but cluba s sports director Klaus Allofs was quick to defend this.
a We want to improve the team step by step. But when you get a chance to sign a player, a World Cup winner like Andr who has already proved his worth in the Bundesliga, then you have to do it.
a The financial aspect has been made into an issue but an engagement of this size makes sense. I dona t think we are breaking the bank if you look what is happening around Europe.a
SchA?rrle also said that the last days were stressful for him as both the deals for him and Cuadrado couldna t be completed until the final day of the transfer window.
a The last days were very stressful to me,a he said.
a I was on the mobile phone all the time, waiting and hoping for a call or a message saying ita s a done deal. And that I can return to Germany and go to Wolfsburg.
“Although the whole process took some time, I was sure that someday it would be successful in the end. Now I am sitting here and I am happy to be part of this team.a