Arjen Robben has described moving leaving Real Madrid for Bayern Munich in 2009 as the "best decision of my career."
The Dutchman spent two seasons in the Spanish capital before moving to a Bayern side which just 12 months earlier had been beaten 5-1 on aggregate by Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA Cup semifinals and were not considered among Europe's top clubs -- and Robben says he was unsure if making the switch was the right move at the time.
However, they would reach the first of their three Champions League finals in four seasons during his first campaign in Bavaria, with Robben himself scoring a late winner in their 2013 victory over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.
"At first I was sceptical, I didn't know if it was the right decision," Robben told Bayern's website ahead of his 10th season with the club. "But now I can say it is the best decision of my career."
The 34-year-old, who signed a one-year contract extension until the end of the 2018-19 season in May, also explained how each move throughout his career has brought its own risks along with it.
"I am always realistic and aware that the football world changes constantly," he added. "It could have been different.
"After my debut at Groningen, I spent two years at PSV [Eindhoven]. It was a big step for me to leave home at just 18. I went abroad at 20 to join a big club in Chelsea. Then two years at Madrid and I came to Bayern and took that decision."
Bayern start the defence of their sixth-consecutive Bundesliga title against Hoffenheim on Friday evening.