Fabregas on why he chose Chelsea over Man United and City as Arsenal rejected chance to re-sign him
Cesc Fabregas only needed one conversation with Jose Mourinho before he decided to join Chelsea in 2014.
The midfielder’s time at Barcelona had come to an end and he believed he would re-join his former club Arsenal who had a week to begin negotiations before he could speak with other teams.
Fabregas waited for a response from the Gunners but after they failed to make contact he assessed the other options on the table.
Cesc Fabregas joined Chelsea in 2014 after one conversation with manager Jose Mourinho
The Portuguese manager had been a rival when he was in charge of Chelsea and Real Madrid
Arsenal had a week before any other clubs could begin negotiations but they did not respond
Manchester City and Manchester United both showed an interest but the midfielder opted for London rivals Chelsea after speaking with Mourinho.
‘Once I decide to leave (Barcelona), Arsenal will have the first option of any other club and I cannot speak to any other club for one week to see if Arsenal want me or not,’ Fabregas told the Arsecast podcast.
‘Arsene didn’t give an answer, we just had to wait one full week to see if they responded. Definitely this was my first option, in my mind I’m telling everyone I’m going to Arsenal – this is what I want.
‘Arsene can see this. I didn’t want to be a beggar, they know the situation, in one week they haven’t said anything, straight away I knew they probably didn’t want me back. They waited the full week without giving me a response.
Fabregas was convinced he would end up back at the Emirates after leaving the club in 2011
‘After the week I had to take my chance, I had Manchester City, United and then I spoke to Mourinho – which I didn’t think would ever happen.
‘To be honest, after I left the room with Mourinho I said “that’s it, I don’t need to talk to anyone else, I’m going to Chelsea.” What he told me, the team he wanted to make, what he thought of me, how he wanted me to play, this is what I wanted.
‘On top of that it’s London not Manchester, London was my home.’
Fabregas recently called out a fan who accused him of being a ‘snake’ and ‘throwing the club under the bus’ for supposedly pointing to the Chelsea badge when he came up against his former side.
He claimed he was in fact telling Arsenal supporters that they would always be in his heart.
However, he admitted that he was aware his decision to sign for the Blue half of London would not go down well with Gunners fans.
‘I knew this would have repercussions with Arsenal, it would have been the same with City or United but I wanted to go back to the Premier League.
‘Thank god that I took that decision because those five years I was very happy there, we’ve won everything in England, the most winning team in English football when I’ve been there. With the fans there was a connection that was impeccable.’
Fabregas won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup trophy during his five year spell at Stamford Bridge before he joined Monaco in January 2019.
Fabregas claimed he was pointing to his chest to show Arsenal fans will always be in his heart
The Spaniard won two league titles with the Blues as well as an FA Cup and League Cup trophy
Arsene Wenger decided not to re-sign his former captain despite them being his first choice
