Raul Meireles: "Liverpool wanted to sell me"

New Chelsea midfielder Raul Meireles has revealed that Liverpool wanted to sell him, denying reports that he demanded to leave Anfield.

The 28-year-old joined the Blues in a £12m transfer deadline day move after Liverpool had accepted his transfer request.

Such action reportedly angered certain sections of Liverpool supporters, but the Portuguese international has claimed that the club told him to submit a request to leave.

"I was aware that Liverpool wanted to sell me in the summer, which was a bit surprising to me," Meireles told a press conference.

"Liverpool asked me to hand in a transfer request, so that's normal.

"I was a bit surprised, but now I'm just concentrating on my present and future, and that's with Chelsea."

Meireles made his Chelsea debut during Saturday's 2-1 victory at Sunderland.