Cesc Fabregas has revealed that he almost signed for Manchester United during the dispensation of Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Red Devils during the early 2000s approached many La Masia’s talents, with the aim of securing their services.
That period saw players like Gerard Pique move to England, with the Spaniard spending four years at Manchester United, before returning to Barcelona in 2008.
Ferguson also made a move for Cesc Fabregas, who eventually joined the cadet side of Arsenal on September 11, 2003, for a fee of €3.20 million.
Fabregas was at Arsenal from 2003 till 2011, when he returned to Barcelona for a fee of €34 million.
His spell in North London was superb and he at some point captained the Gunners before moving back to Spain.
Cesc Fabregas reveals he almost signed for Manchester United
Speaking on the Planet Premier League podcast, Cesc Fabregas disclosed the interest of Manchester United in his services.
He said: “I think there were some conversations with my parents, but Arsenal were the ones who went full-on. I think Pique afterward went to United, but they were more interested in him than me.”
The 2010 World Cup winner added: “At this stage, I think they were talking to three or four players at the academy at Barcelona, but it was always Arsenal for me.”
Manchester United also made another approach to sign him in 2013, as David Moyes was looking at fortifying his setup ahead of the 2013/14 season.
Fabregas at the time was struggling for game time at Barcelona, as he couldn’t get a starting shirt ahead of Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta.
David Moyes courted Fabregas for the Red Devils
In 2020, Cesc Fabregas shared in an interview that he had discussed with Moyes, with the Scottish tactician convinced that Manchester United would acquire the midfielder.
Unfortunately, the deal couldn’t materialize, with Fabregas instead joining Chelsea on July 1, 2014.
The 36-year-old had an excellent career, and he was renowned for his astonishing passing ability, with his ability to drop a decisive pass that can tear a defense apart.
He was also sound with regard to set-pieces, as he was good at taking corners, penalties, and free kicks.
Cesc Fabregas played for several clubs in his career, including; Arsenal, Barcelona, Monaco, and Como.
He retired on July 1, 2023, following his stint with Italian side Como, where he is the current assistant manager of the Serie B side.
Fabregas made 737 club career appearances, scoring 125 goals and providing 213 assists in all competitions.
Internationally, Cesc Fabregas made 110 appearances for Spain, scoring 15 goals and providing 36 assists.
The Spaniard also won several trophies in his stellar career, including; 1 FIFA World Cup, 1 FIFA Club World Cup, and 3 League titles (2 Premier Leagues and 1 La Liga).
