Cesc Fabregas has opened up on his failed attempt to return to Arsenal after he left them to join Barcelona
Fabregas came through the ranks at Barcelona but he was plucked away by Arsenal as a 17-year-old. He took just one year to break into the Arsenal senior team and helped them win the FA Cup soon after.
He, however, became desperate to return to Barcelona in 2010 but he was denied the chance to make that move.
He would eventually join the Catalans a year later, however, after just three years at the Camp Nou, he wanted a return to the Premier League.
His preferred choice was Arsenal but the Gunners rejected the chance to re-sign him and he joined Chelsea instead.
He would go on to help the Blues lift another Premier League title before moving to AS Monaco in France.
Speaking to the Arseblog as quoted by FootballLondon, he said:
“The only thing that kills me now is that I had to be so pushy to Arsene,” said Fabregas.
“The guy gave me absolutely everything. I owe everything to him.
“I asked to leave after the World Cup in 2010. He [Arsene] told me absolutely not, it is impossible. “He said if the next season would be the same then he would look into it.
“Arsenal will have the first option and I cannot speak to any other club for one week until Arsenal make the decision if they want it or not.
“Arsenal were my first option. In my mind I’m telling everyone I’m going [back] to Arsenal.
“I played for Arsenal with a fever, I played for Arsenal with a broken leg.
“I played for Arsenal when my Grandad died. I gave everything for that club; I would do it all over again.”
Such a shame he acted in the way he did when he was with Chelsea, hard to take him completely at his word about his feelings for Arsenal if I am honest.
Let me put it this way, he is most certainly not what I would call an Arsenal legend
The mistake was, in my opinion, that of Arsene Wenger in this instance.
We all knew what Cesc could do on the pitch…our club under AW taught him how to play the beautiful game properly.
Yet AW really forced him to find another club and chelsea were wise enough to step in and sign him.
He made it perfectly clear that, at some period in his footballing career, he wanted to rejoin his boyhood club and The Arsenal knew that from very early on.
Those of us with our own club’s DNA, surely understand that and it is patently clear from his statements in this article that he gave everything while at the club and wanted to come back…has never had a bad word to say about our club, the manager and the fans, just compare that with little boy judas!!!
Thank God for the voice of fairness and reason Ken. Please read by post below saying much the same. HE ALWAYS GIVE HIS CONSIDERABLE ALL ON THE PITCH FOR US AND NO ONE CAN EXPECT MORE, NOT IF THEY ARE REASONABLE PEOPLE. BUT SOME , SADLY INCLUDING MARTIN ON THIS OCCASION, ARE NOT BEING FAIR!
The timing of his exit made the transfer even harder to take.
Nasri we could do without if he was replaced properly, but both of them was a tough one to swallow.
So the fan-base was split on Cesc.
Thinking back, I don’t know if we could have afforded him, when we were offered him back.
He will always be my legend..!!
no matter what he says, he will always be a traitor in my eye
Cesc was a good player but a bad captain. If Arsenal is trailing in a game, he would be deflated. His body language was not good to lift the team as a captain
Not an Arsenal legend?… He was an impeccable captain. We didn’t take him back when we had the chance, not his fault. Put our chips on Ozil 🙁
It was correct not taking him back because of the way he forced his way out and besides we had replaced his service with Ozilg
Cesc has Arsenal DNA. Was it his fault that we had bought Ozil for the creative role in the team when he hoped to return from his home town club? Which will be remembered in 10 years time as an Arsenal great who gave everything every time he pulled on the shirt, not the German me thinks! He might be a fan of Arsenal but firstly he was a man making a living. If we didn’t have a slot to take him back what was he supposed to do starve?
No, Martin No! No way is Cesc NOT a legend. You are being unfair IMO. He wanted to come back and quite naturally also wanted to go back to his boyhood club in Barcelona prior to wishing to return here. He was denied his chance and urge to return to us by Wengers, IMO unwise decision not to grab him back with both hands. Consequently and as a still young man and a prover top level player, what on earth would YOU have him do then? Retire perhaps? Give up playing and become an attending Gooner like many onhere?
Get real Martin and play fair. To say he is NOT a legend is plain wrong and obviously so. I am disappointed in your view and expected better from YOU!