Claudio Pizarro Bio Send To Friend  

Chelsea looked to have strengthened their attacking options in June 2007 with the signing of Pizarro on a free transfer from Bayern Munich. In fact, Pizarro became something of an invisible man at Stamford Bridge. Indeed his most visible showings in the UK have come as a winning racehorse owner.

The Peruvian international was out of contract at the Bundesliga club and opted to move for Champions League football, with Bayern only in the UEFA Cup for 2006/07.

Pizarro began his career in his homeland with Deportivo Pesquero.

Several European clubs were tracking Pizarro after his performances for Alianza Lima and he moved to Germany in 1999 joining Werder Bremen.

After two years in Bremen, Pizarro had become hot property and he opted to staying in Germany with European champions Bayern.

Pizarro won the German double with Bayern in 2003, 2005 and 2006, as well as the Intercontinental Cup in 2001.

With his contract due to expire, FC Sevilla, Juventus, Benfica and Rangers were all linked with the player but he opted to move to the Premier League and sign for Chelsea. He turned down Bayern's offer in search of better terms, which angered Bayern chairman Franz Beckenbauer.

On signing for Chelsea, Pizarro sent out a warning to Didier Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko that he intended to be the Blues' number one striker.

It was a warning they should have not bothered heeding as he managed just two goals in 21 appearances, where his marked lack of pace failed to edge out even the hapless Shevchenko.