Liverpool legend John Aldridge has ripped into Chelsea following the $225 million signing of Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo, accusing the rival club of lacking integrity.
Earlier this week, Chelsea secured the services of Caicedo for a reported Premier League record fee.
The Blues, who were desperately seeking a defensive midfielder before the end of the summer window, said the 21-year-old had agreed to an eight-year contract at Stamford Bridge, with a club option for a further year, after Chelsea beat off competition from Liverpool for his signature.
Last week, Liverpool had a $216 million offer accepted after Brighton set a deadline for bid, but Caicedo turned down the opportunity to join the Reds to pursue a move to the Blues.
Chelsea are desperately seeking a defensive midfielder before the end of the summer window.
Aldridge, who won an FA Cup with Liverpool in 1989, insisted his former club are “far bigger” than Chelsea in a stunning rant, claiming the Blues “bought” their way to success.
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“As soon as the player made clear he wanted to go to Chelsea over Liverpool, I didn’t want him at all. We are far bigger than Chelsea will ever be,” Aldridge penned in the Liverpool Echo.
“Missing out on this transfer has not hurt me like when (Fernando) Torres left us to go there, that was awful and hard to stomach. Going to Chelsea? When I was at Oxford United, we beat them three times in the space of four months. They have bought their way to where they are.
“In terms of the reasons behind Caicedo choosing Chelsea over Liverpool, they are a London club and some players see that as a big pull. With the Louis Vuitton shop on Oxford Street and the London way of life, they view that as a huge attraction.
“Chelsea have got that, but they haven’t got the same selling point of Liverpool Football Club: history. We are a massive club in world football and that will always be there. If Caicedo wants to go to Chelsea, good riddance. We have to overcome this and trust Jurgen to get a player who can do that job.”
Chelsea got their 2023/24 campaign off to a strong start on Sunday, clinching a 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
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