Cecs Fabregas has revealed that Arsene Wenger turned down the chance to bring him back for a second spell at Arsenal.
In his first spell at Emirates Stadium, the midfielder rose through the ranks to become a vital first-teamer and Gunners captain. But he departed for Barcelona in 2011 after a series of disappointing seasons for Wenger's side.
Though he played regularly for the La Liga giants, Fabregas failed to have the same impact at Camp Nou. As a result, Barca were ready to sell him just three years after his arrival, with Fabregas keen to return to the Premier League.
He went as far as contacting Arsenal about the possibility of returning, with the Gunners holding an option of first refusal. But the Spaniard has revealed that Wenger opted to turn that chance down.
Instead, the then-Gunners boss was happy to rely on the quartet of Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey in midfield. It was a decision that Fabregas has admitted left him disappointed.
"I really wanted to go back to the Premier League. In the contract when I signed for Barcelona, we said that, after I leave, Arsenal will have the first option. They had a week to respond," he told Kammy and Ben's Proper Football Podcast.
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"So, obviously we approached Arsenal, we said, 'listen I'm leaving Barcelona and by law, you have a week to decide if you want to take me back or not'. For a week, I couldn't talk to anyone.
"We noticed Arsenal, Arsene, everyone, so after a week we called Arsene and he said he'd thought about it and he said they already had a lot of players in my position like Mesut Ozil, Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey.
"And he said to fit me in he would have to play someone out and this could create, you know... I think also he was a little bit hurt, by how I left and everything. I don't hold anything bad because it's their right, their decision and they could do what they wanted."
Fabregas would instead join Chelsea, going on to win two Premier League titles with the Blues. But he admitted that his failure to win any silverware in his later years with Arsenal pains him to this day.
"I had a few options and one of them was Chelsea. I spoke to (Jose) Mourinho, I met him. He told me things that were very nice to hear. He wanted me to be the leader of that team. It just felt right," Fabregas added.
"The biggest regret of my career will always be not winning that Champions League final (in 2006 with Arsenal), that we were so, so close. Also, not lifting a trophy as an Arsenal captain was something that will always be in my heart because I gave so much.
"I exhausted myself so much. I hope Arsene knows what I gave for the club, emotionally and physically, and in terms of everything. Inside of you, it gives you a little bit of sadness in a way, of regrets.
"Not because I didn't give my all, which I did - and I think I overdid it. But yeah, not lifting a trophy - an important one - because obviously the FA Cup... You know, a trophy is a trophy and it's great, but making it to the next level, you need to win a major, major trophy."
