Cesc would have stayed at Arsenal
Posted Thursday, October 18, 2012 by ESPN
Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas has revealed he would have happily stayed at Arsenal for the rest of his career had the Catalans not come in for him.
Fabregas was born in Catalonia and grew up supporting Barcelona - he signed for the club's famed La Masia youth academy aged 10 in 1997.
However, sensing first team opportunities would be few and far between, he left the club in September 2003 to join English Premier League side Arsenal. Under the guidance of Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, the Spaniard flourished and in 2008 he was named Arsenal captain.
Considered one of the best players in the Premier League by then, Fabregas enjoyed the adoration of Arsenal fans until his boyhood club Barcelona came knocking in 2011. In August that year, the Spain international re-signed with the Catalans for an initial fee of €29million with a further €5million in variables.
The loss of their captain to a European rival hit Arsenal fans hard but a healthy number of supporters also appeared to understand Fabregas's reasons for wanting to play for Barca.
And the respect seems to flow both ways as Fabregas has recently revealed in an interview with L'Equipe just how much he loved his time in North London.
"It was a dream of mine to play for Barca, but I was not bitter at Arsenal," he said.
"On the contrary, I was living somewhere which, for me, was the most beautiful city in the world, I was in an incredible team with a superb coach and supporters I adored.
"It was not a question of life or death. If Barca had not come in for me, I would have played my whole career at Arsenal. That was certain."
The 25-year-old added that so strong was his determination to make his Barca dream come true that took a cut in pay to move back to Spain in 2011.
"Yes, there are teams who pay better," he said.
"But it was always clear to me. Either go to Barca or stay at Arsenal. The last thing on my mind was money and I have come to Barca and I earn less."
Fabregas made his debut for Arsenal in October 2003 against Rotherham United in the League Cup.
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