Ex-Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger flew in from Paris in desperate bid to beat Man Utd to 15-year-old Cesc Fabregas
CESC FABREGAS has revealed that Arsene Wenger cut short a holiday in Paris to meet him as a 15-year-old - pulling out all the stops to bring him to Highbury from Barcelona.
The Spaniard had been due to visit Manchester United's training ground as well as the Gunners', having received offers from both clubs.
But the youngster decided to move to Highbury - having been in awe of Wenger when he cut short his holiday to greet him at London Colney.
Speaking to Rio Ferdinand on the ex-United defender's new YouTube series, Fabregas opened up on his decision.
He said: "I was 15 and I was the captain of that team and I was well valued.
"On top of me there was [Andres] Iniesta and other players who had potential to make it. One day, a scout came from Arsenal to talk to my parents. And I always like to listen.
"Even now, five years ago, I always listen to what people have to say. Out of respect, too. We did that and the guy told me he had been to watch me 50 times and that I was made to play for Arsenal and the Premier League.
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"When I went to London it was June and everyone was on holiday. Arsene Wenger was in Paris for holiday but he flew in a private jet to meet me. David Dein came to London Colney to meet me.
"This shocked me in a way, like 'wow, Arsene Wenger', I am 15-years-old, I am nobody and this guy is breaking up his holiday to meet me. This for me was like 'wow'.
"And then we are talking, he spoke to my mother, asked what I was like when I was little. He showed me the training ground and I just fell in love, I fell in love with the whole project, the whole thing."
Fabregas went on to establish himself as one of the league's finest players during his eight years at Arsenal, going on to skipper the club and win the FA Cup.
But he has admitted growing frustrated, feeling that even his excellent performances were never going to be enough to drag his side over the line when it came to winning the biggest trophies.
He continued: "I always felt that I was competing, the team in general, competing against the world.
"[Manchester United], Chelsea, sometimes Liverpool and even though I speak to guys at Chelsea and the Spanish guys at Liverpool and they would say they used to hate playing against us [at Arsenal].
I was a competitor and I would have done anything to win with Arsenal. But I felt this wasn't coming.
Cesc Fabregas
"You used to hate it but we always lost - particularly in important moments. I felt always so frustrated to see big teams winning and always having that edge. I was young, passionate, and gave everything for Arsenal.
"I was hungry and wanted to win, I was a competitor and I would have done anything to win with Arsenal. But I felt this wasn't coming."
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He subsequently moved back to Barcelona for three years in 2011 before returning to London in 2014... but this time in the blue of Chelsea.
During his time at Stamford Bridge, Fabregas finally got his hands on an elusive Premier League winners' medal.
Now 33, Fabregas turns out for AS Monaco in Ligue 1.