Tony Yeboah: Madrid move great for Essien

Anthony Yeboah confesses to 90 MINUTES that he was surprised by Michael Essien’s loan move from Chelsea to Real Madrid but the former Black Stars striker is also quick to hail it as great for the career of the former Lyon midfield strongman. Essien who still has two years to run on his Chelsea contract, made the switch in the last moments of transfer deadline day to rejoin former boss Jose Mourinho. It was the Portuguese tactician who paid a then Chelsea record transfer fee to bring the Ghanaian to Stamford Bridge when he was coach of at the West London side. Now Mourinho has come to the rescue of Essien with his Chelsea career apparently stifled by new Blues manager Roberto di Matteo who had reduced the man Mourinho once called ‘multifunctional’ to a chronic benchwarmer.

“It’s very challenging because to move from Chelsea to Real Madrid is not easy. To be struggling or ignored at Chelsea, I thought he will move to a lower ranked team so to go Real Madrid means that he wants to get to the top again,” Tony Yeboah told 90 MINUTES.

He added: “The idea to move to Madrid means that the player is very prepared for challenges. When he gets into the first team of Real Madrid, then it will be even more fantastic so let’s pray that he takes it step by step.” Beyond playing for Los Galacticos, former Leeds and Frankfurt striker Yeboah also sees a light at the end of the tunnel for the Ghana Black Stars and Essien who turns 30 on December

3. Yegoala explained: “It’s a fantastic move, I really love that as Michael is a very good player. When you rate the best midfielders in the world, he is among them and if he isn’t getting the chance to play at Chelsea then he has to move. “And Real Madrid are a bigger side who can make him get better.

“Definitely when his performances improve, when he starts playing Real Madrid first team, then why not a return to the Black Stars? It’s a good move too for the national team and

I’m looking forward to see him in action.”