‘It wasn’t right’: Chelsea’s on-loan keeper Kepa issues a damning verdict on Todd Boehly’s £1bn ‘project’, as he reveals Mauricio Pochettino ‘told me I would play’ before being left with Robert Sanchez

Kepa Arrizabalaga revealed he left Chelsea this summer after becoming disillusioned with Todd Boehly’s ‘project’ as he felt he needed a change of scenery.

The Spaniard was loaned out to Real Madrid last month, with Los Blancos replacing Thibaut Courtois after the Belgian ruptured his cruciate ligament.

Speaking on Spanish radio HANDLEKepa made thinly veiled criticism of Boehly’s spending spree, admitting he didn’t think twice about leaving Chelsea.

“I felt it was time for a change of scenery,” he said.

‘I wanted to stay, but I felt that the project was not the right one.’

Chelsea have spent over £1 billion on players since Boehly took over last year

Chelsea have spent more than £1 billion on players since Boehly took control of the club last year when Clearlake bought 60 per cent of Chelsea in a £4.25 billion takeover.

The Blues gave £350 million to players this summer, breaking the UK transfer record by signing Moises Caicedo from Brighton in a £115 million deal, seven months after setting the previous record when they signed Enzo Fernandez for £ 107 million.

Things were also hectic in the dugout, where Mauricio Pochettino is Chelsea’s third permanent manager in six months after Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter were sacked.

The lavish investment is yet to pay off, with The Blues falling to their worst-ever result in a Premier League campaign last season and languishing in twelfth place after four games this season.

Chelsea paid £72 million to sign Kepa from Athletic Bilbao in 2018 – the highest ever paid for a goalkeeper – but spent £25 million this summer to sign Robert Sanchez from Brighton.

Kepa explained that Pochettino wanted him to stay after allowing Édouard Mendy to leave Stamford Bridge, but the Spaniard felt he needed a change.

“Yes, it was very fast (the move to Real Madrid),” he said Mark.

“It’s true that Pochettino wanted me to stay and he told me I was going to play, that he trusted me, but I thought a change would be good for me, I wanted a change.

Kepa said Mauricio Pochettino wanted him to stay at Chelsea this summer

‘Thomas Tuchel called me. We were about to go to Munich.’

However, the prospect of a reunion with Tuchel soon faded as Real expressed their interest.

“When Madrid calls you, everything changes,” he told COPE.

“My signing was completed within a few hours and a few phone calls.”