Fabregas: Real Madrid wanted me over summer
ARSENAL captain Cesc Fabregas has revealed he was wanted by Real Madrid during a summer of uncertainty over his future.
Barcelona were known to be interested in the Spain midfielder and had two bids, the second of more than £30m, rejected by the Gunners.
But it emerged yesterday that Barca’s fierce rivals Real were also in the market for the Catalan 23-year-old, who asked manager Arsene Wenger to let him leave.
“I am not someone who goes around saying who is interested in me but it’s difficult to say who showed more interest, Barcelona or Real,” he said. “I tried to leave during the summer but in the end it couldn’t be. It was a great opportunity for me but here I have everything; all that is missing is winning titles. I couldn’t leave for many reasons, principally because Arsenal said ‘no’.”
Wenger says Fabregas is “very short and unlikely to be involved” against Birmingham tomorrow, but could return from a hamstring problem for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk.
Striker Nicklas Bendtner is expected to be back in the squad for the first time this season, while full-back Kieran Gibbs is also set to return.