Arjen Robben explains why he left Real Madrid in 2009

Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben is heading into his final game with the club and has taken some time to reflect on his career. In the course of looking back, the 35-year-old Dutch legend touched on the highs and lows, but ultimately said leaving that Real Madrid for Bayern back in 2009 was the the best decision of his career.

In a report by AS, Robben talked through the period surround his exit from Los Blancos.

It was not just Ronaldo … Florentino Perez returned as president of the club and then bought Ronaldo and Kaka, Benzema and Xabi Alonso. They spent so much money they told us they needed to make some money with the sales. For me it was a shame because I had a very good relationship with former Coach Manuel Pellegrini, and maybe I had the best preseason of my career. I found it difficult because of the change of president in Madrid, I really felt very comfortable there and played very well, but when politics comes into play and you do not have a real chance, you must decide if you want to keep fighting or continue your career elsewhere.

After making the decision to leave the Spanish capital, Robben took his exploits to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2009, signing for the club for a fee of approximately €25-million. Louis van Gaal and former captain Mark van Bommel played integral roles in convincing Robben to come to Munich, especially since Bayern were not on the same pedigree as Real Madrid in European competition at the time. The Champions League title was of one Robben’s biggest goals, so he took some persuading to come to Bayern:

The decision was not easy, we sat down as a family and talked, after all, it was leaving a great club like Real Madrid. There was no turning back. In comparison, Bayern was not as successful in Europe at that time. My goal had always been to win the Champions League. I wanted to prove I was good enough and my move to Bayern was the best decision of my career.

Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

As we all know, Robben achieved his dream in 2013, scoring the winning goal at Wembley in 2013 en route to Bayern’s Champions League title, capping of a treble winning season under Jupp Heynckes. After a decade of seasons, 308 appearances, 144 goals, and 101 assists for Bayern, the Dutchman will officially be signing off for good when Die Roten square against RB Leipzig in the DFB-Pokal final in Berlin. There’s not many words that do his time with Bayern the justice it deserves, but it would be a fairytale ending to see him lift yet another trophy just 7-days after celebrating the clubs 7th consecutive Bundesliga title.

Danke fur alles, Mr Wembley!

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