Brazilian forward Willian has confirmed that he is leaving Chelsea after staying there for 7 years and is moving to city-rivals Arsenal. The clubs have confirmed this deal on their social media and website as well. Willian has played his last game for Chelsea against Liverpool in the Premier League, missing their matches against his new club Arsenal in the FA Cup final as well as against Bayern Munchen in the UEFA Champions League through injury. He had his medical recently at the club and joins Arsenal on a free transfer this summer.
Emotional farewell to Chelsea fans
Willian has thanked the whole Chelsea management and also expressed his gratitude to the fans. He has written an Open Letter to everyone associated with Chelsea Football Club.
“They were seven wonderful years. In August 2013 when I received the offer from Chelsea, I was convinced that this was where I had to play. Today I am certain that it was the best of decisions. There were so many happy times, some sad, there were trophies and it was always very intense.
Yet, beyond the trophies, I learnt a lot about myself. I developed a great deal, becoming a better player and a better person. With each training session, with each game, with every minute spent in the dressing room, I was always learning.
I am really grateful to the Chelsea fans for the affectionate way they welcomed me at Stamford Bridge and their support throughout my time at the club. There was also criticism, which is normal, what is important though is that both the affection and criticism drove me to always give my all in every training session, every game, to be constantly improving until my very last minute in a Chelsea shirt!
The time has now come to move on. I am certainly going to miss my teammates. I will miss all the staff at the club who’ve always treated me like a son and I will miss the fans. I leave with my head held high, safe in the knowledge that I won things here and always did my best in a Chelsea shirt!
My heartfelt thanks go out to all of you and God bless you!”
Willian’s open letter to Chelsea fans
Willian is a player who can take a massive workload. He plays for the team with a strong mentality. He mainly plays as a Right-winger but can also play as a left-winger or as an Attacking Midfielder. His pace and vision of ball-playing ability are one of the most important capabilities of him. He has good finishing skills as well. Willian is also very comfortable to take freekicks. Chelsea manager Frank Lampard also praised Willian and considered him as one of the most dependable men of his squad.
“He is a fantastic man and a fantastic player. I think he will feel like that about Chelsea. I will leave him to say his own words. He leaves a hole as a player who has been here for seven seasons, being part of successful teams. He has shown me that all year. I have a great relationship with Willian. He has been a great servant for Chelsea.”
Frank Lampard, Chelsea manager on Willian
Willian: Career at a glance
Willian started his career from Corinthians academy in 2004. He was loaned to Mauaense for one year. He joined Corinthians senior team at the season 2005/06 after spending 1year at the academy. He played 17matches for Corinthians scored twice and provided two assists also. After spending two years there Willian joined Ukraine giants Shakhtar Donetsk for about 12million pounds. Willian build himself as a good player there. He won Ukraine league on his first season with Shakhtar, which is also the first silverware of his career. He won 5 league titles there along with 4 Ukrainian cups and 2 Ukrainian Super cups. But most important of all Willian won UEFA Europa League with Shakhtar in 2008/09 season which was his first-ever major European success. He played 221 matches for Shakhtar, scored 37 goals and provided 67 assists.
Anzhi Makhachkala later signed the Brazilian from Shakhtar at the season 12/13 by paying 31million pounds to the Ukrainian giants. He played 17 games there, scored 1 goal, and provided 6 assists. He spent one year there. Shakhtar manager at that time Mircea Lucescu did not hide his concerns after Willian left the club and told that he could get more chance here. Though he praised the player very much and expressed his quality of play.
“I told Willian to stay and wait for a better chance. But he took his decision. He is a good player to watch.”
Mircea Lucescu, former Shakhtar manager
A true servant for the blues
As the current manager of Chelsea Frank Lampard has told which is previously mentioned, the word is absolutely correct for Willian who is surely a true servant for this club. Chelsea signed Willian from Anzhi Makhachkala in the 2013/14 season for about 32million pounds. He played 46 matches in his first season at Stamford Bridge. He scored 4 goals and provided 10 assists. He made a good impact in his first season at Chelsea.
2015 was a very memorable season for his Chelsea as well as his whole career. Willian won his first-ever Premier League title with Chelsea. Not only that as Willian was declared as Premier League Player Of The Year at that season. His tremendous form and quality gameplay stunned everybody. His stats were not too beautiful as he provided 3 assists and scored 2 goals in Premier League that season but his work-rate, control the forward line helped him to achieve the POTY award. He also won the League cup that season. Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho also expressed that Willian is a player brilliant player and can do anything at the forward line. Jose also praised the Brazilian for his work-rate.
“Do you want to talk about Willian? Top, cream of the crop, he’s amazing. He’s a player who would get in any team in the Premier League. I have to say, the last few months he’s been sensational. He is playing very well. He is in the middle of the positive context which is a team playing well, trying to play more and more. Obviously, when you’re the match-winner with a really special shot, it is no question the praise is fair. The boy is magnificent.”
Jose Mourinho, on Willian
Willian from then played with passion for the blues. He also won another Premier League title along with a FA Cup later. He also became successful to get European success with Chelsea as he won the UEFA Europa League at the season 2018/19. He played overall 339 matches, scored 63 times, and provided 62 assists. Willian will always stay in the heart of the Chelsea fans as a great servant and a passionate one to the crest.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard recently again praised him very much and told that he was brilliant for his team this season. Though he expressed his concerns as he was not sure about his future at Stamford Bridge.
“He was extremely influential. He was a threat for us at the minute along with Christian(Pulisic). He has been brilliant for us with both of those things and Willian deserves huge credit. When you think of Willian and his situation, the impact he is having in all the games at the minute with his speed and how he controls the ball and his quality which we all see in every game, I am so pleased with him.”
Frank Lampard, on Willian.
National Career with Brazil
Though Willian is leaving Chelsea still he will play for another club and also for his National Team. He is very important to Brazil currently and manager Tite also thought him as one of the most crucial men of the squad. He made his debut for the Brazil senior team on 10th November 2011 against Gabon in an international friendly match. he played 70 matches for the national team, provided 15 assists, and scored 9 times. He also won a Copa America title for Brazil at the season 2018/19. Brazil manager Sylvinho also praised his quality of play and playing quality.
“Willian has been delivering beautiful work. Willian has some work tactically to get through because he has a lot to do for us but in the second half, tactically, he was able to deliver.”
Sylvinho, Brazil assistant manager
Willian will leave Chelsea after a brilliant career with the Blues. What do you think of him going down as a true Chelsea servant? Where will the Brazilian fit at Arsenal? Let us know in the comment section below
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