Leaving Real Madrid was the Best Decision of my Life, Says Arjen Robben

Former Real Madrid Arjen Robben has said that leaving Los Blancos after just two seasons for Bayern Munich in the summer of 2009 was the best decision of his life.

The 30-year-old, who moved to Munich from Real for a fee of €25m, has recently signed a two-year contract extension with the German champions, keeping him at the club until 2017.

Robben has claimed he has no regrets over moving to the Allianz Arena from the Spanish capital. "Leaving Madrid for Bayern was the best decision of my life," the Dutchman told the official Bayern website.

The former Chelsea star, who was compared to Leo Messi during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, left Real the same summer in which Florentino Perez returned to the presidency. Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini - then in carge of Los Blancos - unsuccessfully tried to keep the Dutch winger.

Robben suggested that Real's board forced him out as they needed to raise cash for the signing of Kaka (€65m) – who finally turned out to be a flop at Real.

"My problem at Real Madrid was not that there were better players than me in the team - that there were not - but the club hierarchy wanted to sell me. I did not want to leave but could do nothing to face that. I had to accept it, because it is very difficult when you want to play and they prefer to sell you," said the winger.

Robben played a key role in Bayern's European and domestic treble under Jupp Heynckes as well as in boss Pep Guardiola's attacking game this campaign.

He has played 28 league games this season scoring 11 goals with seven assists. He was named Bundesliga's top player of the season by sports magazine Kicker.

The Bayern Munich winger is also said to be first on manager Louis van Gaal's shopping list should he be appointed as the new manager of Manchester United. For the full story, click here.