Arsene Wenger Tried To Pull Off Triple Signing That Would Have Transformed Arsenal

Arsene Wenger once tried to pull off a stunning triple signing for Arsenal in 2003. 

According to the legendary manager himself, he was looking to sign Gerard Pique and Lionel Messi at the same time as when he snapped up Cesc Fabregas from Spanish La Liga giants Barcelona. Wenger revealed that the club contacted the Camp Nou club to enquire whether the pair was available. 

Wenger told this stunning story during an appearance on ‘Against The Odds - Cesc Fabregas:Pass Master’, which is due to air on ITV4 this week. The show will detail Fabregas’s time at the Emirates club, as well as his spells at Bacelona, Chelsea and Monaco. 

Wenger told the show: “To be honest when signing Cesc, we also contacted Messi and Pique. 

“Pique in the end decided to go to Man United, Fabregas decided to join us, and Barcelona kept Messi of course! That’s how it happened.”

What could have been for Arsenal if they had Pique and Messi in their side. But in hindsight, the pair’s decision not to join Arsenal was a good one as they both enjoyed a spectacular career at the Camp Nou. 

In the summer of 2003, a fresh faced Fabregas joined the Gunners aged 16. He made his first outing as an Arsenal player just one month later, in a League Cup match against Rotherham United. 

In total, the Spanish midfielder made 303 appearances for Arsenal. During his time with the club, he got his hands on the 2005 FA Cup and was runners up in the 2006 Champions League final. 

Fabregas then made a return to Barcelona after helping his country win the Euro 2012. 

Fabregas now plays for Italian Serie B side Como, he signed a two year contract after leaving Monaco at the end of the 21/22 season. 

The 35-year-old has spoken about his desire to return to the Premier League in the future as a coach. 

He told Sky Sports News: “When I become a coach, as I have said, the Premier League has been my league, it is where I played my best football, my best years, where people respect me so much.” 

Fabregas added: “I feel really loved in England and, in the future, I would love [to coach there], why not? I'd love to [be a Premier League manager], 100 per cent. If I can look at a target in some years to come, then definitely, this is in my head.”