Robben predicts exodus

06 September 2009 10:05
Former Chelsea ace Arjen Robben would not be shocked if the recently imposed transfer embargo sparked a mass exodus of players at Stamford Bridge. The Blues have been slapped with a 16-month ban from signing any new players after Fifa found them guilty of inducing Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens in 2007. The Stamford Bridge club have already lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and a final decision is expected by mid-December. However Robben, who left for Real Madrid in the summer of 2007 and is now playing for German giants Bayern Munich, believes the situation could see a number of top stars leave the Blues. "It would not shock me if players left," he told the Daily Mirror. "Players like John Terry and Frank Lampard love the love the club and they will probably stay. "But I think players who have no long-term relationship with the club may leave. The top clubs in Europe will be looking at Chelsea players now, and if they want to leave there is not a lot the club can do to stop them. Disaster"For one of Europe's super powers not to be able to sign a player for two years would be a disaster." Despite the perceived harshness of the ban the 25-year-old agrees with Fifa's stance over punishing clubs who illegally purchase young players from abroad. "I don't know if they are guilty but if they are I agree with Fifa," he added, "Big clubs think they are above the rules. "In football there are a lot of people trying to take advantage of you when you are a young boy and it is important the authorities do all they can to help protect them."

Source: SKY_Sports