Cesc Fabregas as soon as admitted that Xabi Alonso was “begging” to depart Liverpool with a purpose to be a part of him at Arsenal.
The former Gunners skipper was determined for his worldwide team-mate to affix him in north London with Reds boss Rafael Benitez keen to let the Spaniard depart the membership. Despite endearing himself to Liverpool supporters within the 5 years he was at Anfield, Alonso, 42, hoped to affix their rivals in the summertime of 2009.
Fabregas, 36, opened up about how shut the transfer really obtained as he lamented Arsenal’s hierarchy for not doing sufficient to safe the signature of the Basque native, who ended up becoming a member of Real Madrid in a while within the switch window.
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“I was with Xabi on the phone the whole summer,” Fabregas advised Arseblog in 2020. “He was dying to come. He was literally begging everyone to go to Arsenal, he really wanted to come”. Fabregas – who left Arsenal in 2012 to affix boyhood membership Barcelona – admitted he did his “best” to ensure Alonso turned a Gunner.
“And to be honest, I did my best. I spoke to who I had to speak to. I gave my opinion, I thought that he was a fantastic addition for us at that time,” he added.
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(Image: PA)
Fabregas acknowledged that he was displeased with the dearth of effort from Arsenal to signal Alonso, including that it was “so easy” for them to do. “And yeah I have to say that a couple of times like that I was frustrated by the lack of push, the final push – you know what I mean? That it’s so close, the player is dying to come, it’s so easy to make this deal,” he remarked.
The midfield maestro ended up spending 5 years on the Spanish giants, the place he received a second Champions League title in 2014. Fabregas’ admission will depart Arsenal followers questioning simply how profitable they may have been with the 2 Spaniards controlling the sport from midfield.
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
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He continued: “And it was a shame, because I think he would have been a great, great, great addition to that team. He was made for Arsenal, I think.”