RAUL MEIRELES has desperately tried to portray himself as the innocent party in his transfer from Liverpool to Chelsea.

Apparently, having been denied the hefty wage rise he had been ‘promised’ at Anfield the Portugal international was then ‘forced’ to submit a transfer request. He didn’t want to leave but was booted out the door.

Of course it’s complete rubbish. There is one reason why Meireles is now a Chelsea player and that’s money. Meireles demanded more of it after an average first season in the Premier League and when Liverpool wouldn’t provide an improved deal he sulked.

His pride was dented by the realisation he wouldn’t be an automatic pick this season following the arrival of younger and more talented midfielders.

And then his eyes lit up at the lucrative salary offered by Roman Abramovich after Chelsea admitted defeat in their efforts to land Luka Modric.

The Reds didn’t want to sell on deadline day but Meireles’ desperation to go convinced them they were better off cashing in than keeping an unhappy player. £12million was a decent return.

Meireles masterminded his own departure and since then has embarked on a poor attempt to curry favour with the fans he left behind.