from cfcuk.net

Leaving Chelsea
By: The Reserve
Date: 14 July 2008

Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele has left Chelsea and will link up with Paris St Germain after he and his lawyer met with Peter Kenyon at Stamford Bridge on Monday. The Frenchman whose service for Chelsea has been immaculate and his contribution immense, will join the Parisian club on a free transfer after five years in London at Stamford Bridge.

He will link up with PSG manager Paul Le Guen later this week after he says his goodbyes to the Chelsea squad and staff before they prepare to fly out to China later this week. He purchased several Chelsea 1st team shirts in the Megastore on Monday afternoon to give to friends as a reminder of his time at Stamford Bridge.

Makelele joined Chelsea from Real Madrid in 2003 and was signed by Claudio Ranieri but it was under José Mourinho that the players worth came to the fore.

During his time with Chelsea, he won two League Titles, an FA Cup and League Cup winners’ medal and played in the side that won the Charity Shield at the Millennium Stadium in 2005. He also played in the Champions League Final last May in Moscow against Manchester Utd.

Internationally, he played 71 times for France and played in the 2006 World Cup Final, a game the French lost on penalties.

He scored just two goals for Chelsea, his first in the final league match of the 2004 / 2005 season when Chelsea beat Charlton at Stamford Bridge. With the game approaching its end and the score 0-0, Chelsea were awarded a penalty and his team mates pushed Makelele forward to take it.

Although it was saved, he followed up to knock home the rebound, a goal that prompted the popular terrace chant of “Have you ever seen Maka score a goal? (yes we have!)”. His second was a memorable strike at Three Point L*ne against Sp*rs, a match that saw Chelsea lose their unbeaten run against their deadly rivals who were, in beating The Blues 2-1, ably assisted by former poseur and ex-referee Graham Poll who sent off John Terry.

We here at cfcuk.net would like to thank Maka for everything he has done for Chelsea and we wish him the best of luck for the future. Bonne chance et merci!