I met Man United and Man City above transfer on same day but ‘ONE MAN’ convinced me of Chelsea
In order to join Chelsea in 2014, Cesc Fabregas turned down offers from Manchester United and Manchester City.
The former Spain midfielder, who joined Barcelona from Arsenal three years prior in 2011, was on the pitch at the moment.
After returning to his childhood club, Fabregas had a part in Barcelona’s 2013 La Liga victory, but the team was not successful the following year.
On the last day of the season, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid drew at the Nou Camp, giving Atletico its first championship in eighteen years.
Because of this, Fabregas was among several players who received harsh criticism from the public and media, which prompted him to look into leaving the Nou Camp.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Fabregas said: “I just felt it was time to move on and maybe be more important somewhere else.
“We had that week between the season and the World Cup. I went to London, rested and thought a little bit about what I wanted to do. I had made my decision already, I wanted to leave.
“I called them and told them my decision. Before going to the World Cup, I sat down the same day with the three clubs: Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea. It was at the house of my agent, Darren Dein.
“I spoke to [United manager] David Moyes on the phone, then after I met [Man City chief] Txiki Begiristain and straight after I met [Chelsea manager] Jose Mourinho.
“By talking, analysing, you also get perceptions about who is who and what they want from you.”
On Jose, he said: “He convinced me, he brought me to Chelsea. I had doubts due to my time at Arsenal and could I be the same player and be happy again.
“He made me feel there was no other way. It was Chelsea or Chelsea. Manchester City had a great project and were doing amazing things. Even with [David] Silva I had a great connection.”
When asked about whether he was worried about the Arsenal connection, he said: “Of course.
“I know now it means nothing, but Arsenal will always be one of the best things that happened in my life and my career. If I wasn’t a player with Arsenal then none of this would have happened.
“I was 27. If I was 32 then I wouldn’t think about it. But at 27 you are still at the peak of your career.
Fabregas went on to make 198 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 22 goals and offering 57 assists.
In that time he won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, a League Cup and a Europa League title.