Anelka: Perhaps I've Moved Too Much In My Career

Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka expressed a measure of regret over having changed clubs so many times during his career, but defended his brothers against accusations that they manipulated him into the moves for their own financial gain.

Many believe that the 29-year-old France international has never been unable to fulfill his true potential because of the constant uprooting, and have placed the blame firmly at the feet of his brothers. Claude and Didier Anelka have advised him from his very beginnings at PSG, through to spells at Arsenal, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Man City, Fenerbahçe, Bolton and now Chelsea.

"The stuff about my brothers is, how do you say, legend. I think it was said because I was young and I don't think people could believe that someone so young could decide they wanted to move. So they tried to suggest it was my two older brothers influencing me," insisted Anelka, who arrived at Stamford Bridge for a cool £15 million in January.

"But when I had to leave Paris Saint Germain and move to Arsenal, I made the decision.

"It was the same when I left Arsenal. You can ask Arsene Wenger. He came to me and asked me if I wanted to go to Real Madrid. I said I did. And my brothers were not there. Real Madrid was the biggest club in the world at the time and I wanted to move there.

"When Michael Owen went to Real Madrid it was okay. When David Beckham went to Real Madrid no one turned on him. But when I went it was like I had killed someone.

"And yet one year later Petit and Overmars went to Barcelona and nothing like that happened to them. And remember, Arsenal bought me for £500,000 and sold me for £23m. I don't think I did anything wrong.

Anelka went on to admit, however, that he might have made a few mistakes along the way, by opting for a change in challenge rather than allowing himself time to really feel comfortable at a club.

"I was very young at Arsenal and at Real Madrid and maybe I didn't realise the chance I had," he added.

"At that age you have nothing in your life to measure it against and you don't think so much about the future.

"It wasn't my intention to play for eight clubs in 10 years. I didn't want to move again and again and there were times when I wanted to stay where I was. Had Liverpool wanted to sign me on a permanent deal I think I would still be there."

Derek Wanner