Wedding or transfer? Ashley Cole admits he could have joined Real Madrid

Former England, Chelsea, and Arsenal defender Ashley Cole has revealed that his 2005 marriage to pop star Cheryl was the reason he turned down a move to Real Madrid. He shared this insight on the Stick to Football podcast.

After Euro 2004, Cole felt undervalued at Arsenal and considered a switch to Spain, with both Real Madrid and Barcelona on his radar. According to Ashley, talks with the Madrid giants were quite advanced, and he was ready to put pen to paper.

However, his personal life took center stage and changed everything. "Everything changed, I got married, and in the end, I just didn’t want to leave the country," Cole admitted. Ultimately, he extended his contract with Arsenal, but a year and a half later, he joined Chelsea under José Mourinho. With the Blues, he captured every major trophy and became a club legend.

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Thus, personal circumstances prevented what could have been one of the blockbuster transfers of the era, and fate led Cole to a glittering career at Chelsea—a decision he certainly doesn't regret.