Man United Legend: This Cesc Fabregas Performance Prevented My Arsenal Move

Michael Carrick reveals he was so close to joining Arsenal, but Cesc Fabregas swayed Arsene Wenger’s mind…

Manchester United legend Michael Carrick revealed in his upcoming biography that he was on the verge of joining Arsenal in the summer of 2004, but Cesc Fabregas’ display in the Community Shield against Manchester United convinced Arsene Wenger he wasn’t needed, The Times reports.

In an extract handed to the broadsheet, Wenger eyed Carrick as a long-term replacement for Patrick Vieira – who had just ended his nine-year stay by joining Juventus.

The deep-lying playmaker was coming through the ranks at West Ham United at the time and revealed that the deal was so close, that he was waiting by the phone to receive confirmation.

However, the confirmation never came and it was instead David Dein relaying the message that Wenger had full faith in Fabregas to step up.

Carrick narrates in his book:

“But I waited, and waited, and that call never came. The next day, I had to go into training at West Ham instead and, on the way, David phoned to say he’d had a call from Dein. David relayed the gist of his message, like, “I’m sorry, the manager says we don’t need Michael. Fàbregas is coming through like he is. Sorry, the deal’s off.” Fàbregas’s performance changed Wenger’s mind about needing me.

“I was totally devastated as I had my heart set on Arsenal and playing with all that talent. My head was gone. Arsenal had swayed me and I didn’t have a clue what I’d do now.”

The England international would later go on to join Spurs before being snapped up by Manchester United, where he won every trophy available to him, including the Champions League.

For us, Fabregas was a huge success, but we could’ve done with an extra body in midfield as Gilberto Silva missed that entire campaign with a back injury.

Hindsight, hey?

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