Former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has opened up on his departure from the club.
The Spaniard joined La Liga giants in a deal worth £35m in the summer of 2011, after spending eight years in north London after joining the Gunners as a teenager.
Fabregas only won one major honour with the Gunners - the 2005 FA Cup, and failed to lift any silverware after being named captain by former boss Arsene Wenger.
After three seasons at the Camp Nou, the midfielder returned to the Premier League joining Chelsea, where he won the Premier League title twice, one FA Cup and one League Cup.
But the World Cup winner has now revealed how the Gunners opted against re-signing him, even though he was convinced himself he was heading back to the Emirates after his spell in Spain.
The midfielder then went on to join Chelsea, where he would enjoy success under Jose Mourinho, and then Antonio Conte.
"The only thing that kills me now is that I had to be so pushy to Arsene,” Fabregas told the Arseblog podcast.
“The guy gave me absolutely everything. I owe everything to him.
"I asked to leave after the World Cup in 2010. He [Arsene] told me absolutely not, it is impossible.
"He said if the next season would be the same then he would look into it.
"Arsenal will have the first option and I cannot speak to any other club for one week until Arsenal make the decision if they want it or not.
"Arsenal were my first option. In my mind I'm telling everyone I'm going [back] to Arsenal.
"I played for Arsenal with a fever, I played for Arsenal with a broken leg.
"I played for Arsenal when my Grandad died. I gave everything for that club & I would do it all over again."
