Xhaka explained why he refused to move to Chelsea

Sunderland central midfielder Granit Xhaka has commented on the failed move to Chelsea. The London club attempted to sign the 33-year-old Swiss in the summer at the initiative of head coach Xabi Alonso, who wanted to add experience to his midfield. Chelsea made an initial bid of eight million pounds, but Sunderland refused to accept it and insisted Xhaka was not on the market for a transfer. The footballer himself, who previously worked with Alonso at Bayer, ultimately decided to stay at the club. Xhaka stressed that he had a clear understanding of his own role in the team's long-term project when he signed for Sunderland. At the same time, the football player admitted that interest from such a club as Chelsea was a great honor for him. "When I signed the contract here, there was already a certain plan behind the scenes and it was to stick to this project, believe in it and work for it. I always say to myself and to the people around me: I did not come here for one season. It is a great honor when a football club like Chelsea wants to sign a player who is almost 34 years old. There was definitely more to it, but my commitment to the club was unwavering," Granit Xhaka was quoted as saying by The Sports Agents on the Global Player platform. Xhaka remains one of Sunderland's key players after helping the team finish seventh in the Championship and qualify for the Europa League last season.