Wesley Fofana completed a £70m move to Stamford Bridge, after what was a very lengthy negotiation between Chelsea and Leicester City.

Fofana accused Leicester City and Brendan Rodgers of making ‘false and misleading comments’ about him during the negotiations.

The new Chelsea signing said: “Thanks to the managers, to the coach who has always appreciated me, even if he chose to expose me a lot lately.

“I chose not to communicate during this transfer window despite all the criticism and all the often false and misleading comments, even when they were coming from the club.

“I understood and I learned. I didn’t want to damage the image of the institution and I chose to take it rather than answer.”

Responding to Fofana’s statement, Rodgers insisted he does not hold a grudge against the young defender and claimed that he was influenced by some other people to put out that statement.

Speaking ahead of Leicester’s Premier League clash with Manchester United on Thursday night, Rodgers told BT Sport: “I will always defend players and I will defend Wesley.

“A lot has been said about him and what was said. I try not to get too emotional. I know where the statement came from and I know it wasn’t Wesley Fofana. He is a good kid.

“We brought him in here, no one knew him. He played for us, he was amazing. We wanted him to stay but he’s taken the possibility to go.

“It’s a shame for us and it’s a shame how it ended but he’s a good guy and I know other influences have taken him away from the club.”