Chelsea midfielder Oriol Romeu is grateful to manager Jose Mourinho for allowing him to move to Valencia.

Romeu has signed for Los Che on-loan for the season.

He said: "Mourinho explained to me that Essien and Lampard were ahead of me. He insisted that, after an injury, I had to play many games.

"He said it would be better for me to play for a team that can guarantee more minutes.

"I'm very grateful to Mourinho for allowing to leave for Valencia - it was where I wanted to go.

"When the transfer was completed, I went to thank him, because other teams had offered Chelsea better terms, but he understood my position."