Arsene Wenger laid out his model of how he practically signed a number of the world’s main footballers earlier this week.
The previous Arsenal boss went into element about how Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been among the many present international superstars on his radar on the north London facet throughout his 22-year keep.
The Frenchman highlighted former Manchester United assistant supervisor Carlos Queiroz as the rationale behind Ronaldo’s eventual transfer to Outdated Trafford, whereas including Barcelona used their nous to maintain maintain of Messi.
However who else might have joined them at Arsenal, and what has Wenger needed to say about his failure to signal them? Right here, Sportsmail takes a take a look at who might have arrived on the membership had the Frenchman had his manner… and there are greater than a handful of family names on the checklist.
Arsene Wenger detailed as soon as once more this week a number of the international stars he missed out on
Gerard Pique
Barcelona’s La Masia academy gave the impression to be on the peak of its powers within the early 2000s as they introduced by way of a number of names which have gone on to win essentially the most valued competitions.
Cesc Fabregas, Gerard Pique and Lionel Messi have been all coming by way of the academy earlier than the previous was taken by Arsenal in 2003, changing into some of the adorned gamers of the Emirates period.
However talking earlier this week, Wenger revealed he additionally needed to signal the opposite two similtaneously Fabregas, however claimed brokers prevented the transfer for the defender from taking place a 12 months earlier than he sealed a transfer to Manchester United.
‘[It didn’t work out with Pique] due to the brokers. I believe it was linked with Nike on the time they usually needed Pique to go to Man United.’
Arsenal needed Gerard Pique from Barcelona a 12 months earlier than he joined Manchester United
Raphael Varane
The Gunners’ defence was typically seen as the rationale why they failed to achieve success in successful main trophies throughout the second half of Wenger’s reign.
However had they acted sooner, they might have signed one of many world’s greatest in Raphael Varane, again when he was enjoying for French membership RC Lens.
Actual Madrid finally signed him in 2011 and he has grown in stature in Spain, making 348 appearances for the Spanish giants and successful three LaLiga titles and 4 Champions League crowns with them in addition to being a World Cup winner with France.
Again in 2013, Wenger mentioned: ‘I am joyful for him as a result of he is carving out a job at one of many world’s greatest golf equipment, which is outstanding.
‘But on the identical time, if you end up in control of a membership like Arsenal, it’s important to surprise why this participant is just not enjoying for us. He was at Lens, and we would nicely have caught him there.’
Wenger was considering signing present Actual Madrid star Raphael Varane when at Lens
Yaya Toure
The Ivorian turned up for a trial at Arsenal in the summertime earlier than the membership’s Invincible marketing campaign in 2003-04.
Toure – 20 on the time – performed in a goalless pre-season pleasant in opposition to Barnet, and had Arsenal managed to signal him, he would retrospectively have been an excellent alternative for captain Patrick Vieira, who departed for Juventus two years later.
However passport points denied Arsenal the possibility of signing him completely and he ended up becoming a member of Ukrainian facet Metalurh Donetsk, occasions which Wenger has claimed is on the prime of his checklist of regrets.
To rub salt into the injuries seven years later – after success at Barcelona – Toure began his journey of changing into a Manchester Metropolis legend, successful three Premier League titles alongside the way in which.
Wenger admitted not signing Yaya Toure (proper) is on the prime of his switch regrets
‘It will be up on the prime [of my list of regrets],’ Wenger lamented. ‘He had an settlement with us – and it is not as a result of we did not need to signal him that he went to Ukraine.
‘Yaya Toure is a top-class participant,’ Wenger later mentioned. ‘We knew that on the time.
‘In England, to get the gamers in they should have performed 75 per cent of nationwide video games, however Yaya by no means did [for Ivory Coast].
‘We determined to attend for the passport utility after which, when he was near making use of, he moved to Ukraine so we misplaced the entire likelihood of the deal.’
Toure scored twice in opposition to the Gunners, as soon as in a 6-3 victory in 2013 and the opposite in a 2-1 defeat on the Emirates Stadium in December two years later.
Toure scored twice in opposition to Arsenal for Man Metropolis, together with a penalty in 2013 in a 6-3 win
Paul Pogba
The France World Cup winner is the following individual on the checklist of gamers Arsenal might have acquired.
Wenger was considering signing Pogba again in 2012 when he was on the verge of leaving Manchester United. Nonetheless, as soon as extra they have been too gradual out of the blocks and have been pipped by Juventus once more.
When opening up on the irritating pursuit, Wenger mentioned: ‘Issues occurred in a short time. We have been considering him. We tried to get him to come back right here. However he in a short time signed for Juventus.’
Pogba netted his solely objective so far in opposition to the Gunners in Wenger’s remaining 12 months in cost with the opener in United’s 2-1 win at Outdated Trafford in April 2018.
Wenger was considering Pogba again in 2012, when he was on the verge of leaving United
N’Golo Kante
Pogba’s worldwide team-mate Kante was one in every of Wenger’s newer misses, having didn’t signal the midfielder practically 5 years in the past now after he had performed an instrumental function in Leicester’s historic Premier League title-winning marketing campaign in 2015-16.
Wenger laid his eyes on Kante to fill a much-needed void simply in entrance of the defence, however it was London rivals Chelsea who finally gained the race with a £32m deal, and to many Gunners followers’ annoyance, their facet would go on to signal £35m Granit Xhaka.
However Wenger claimed in February 2017 – a time when the Blues have been prime of the desk and would go on to win the title – that he had in truth made two makes an attempt to signal the tireless midfielder.
Wenger was eager on signing N’Golo Kante (proper) earlier than he moved to Chelsea in 2016
The primary try got here whereas he was an unknown determine at Caen, earlier than Leicester and later Chelsea obtained their arms on him, and Wenger implied that Roman Abramovich’s facet’s monetary firepower noticed him find yourself at Stamford Bridge.
‘I attempted to signal Kante when he was in France and when he was at Leicester,’ Wenger mentioned. ‘We will not clarify the whole lot – transfers are transfers – however it’s fairly apparent once you take a look at the place he has gone.
‘I imagine Kante has had a big impact. It is no coincidence Chelsea are the place they’re and Leicester did what they did.’
Claude Makelele
One other French midfielder who would find yourself at Chelsea later in his profession, Claude Makelele was one other of Wenger’s compatriots that obtained away.
The present Chelsea youth coach and technical mentor was enjoying for Nantes in the summertime of 1996, when Wenger tried to signal him.
However talking in 2006, the previous Arsenal boss admitted the previous Marseille, Actual Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder was one other one who eluded him.
‘Claude Makelele was near signing for us,’ Wenger mentioned. ‘Makelele was straight after Vieira got here, August 1996. He was nonetheless in Nantes.’
Makelele went on two win two Premier League medals in Jose Mourinho’s first two years at Stamford Bridge between 2004 and 2006, whereas additionally successful the 2002 Champions League with Madrid.
Wenger has mentioned former Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele (proper) was additionally near signing
Ronaldinho
Gilberto Silva and Edu are among the many most adorned Brazilian gamers to have performed for Arsenal given their ‘Invincible’ standing.
However their success on the membership might have been dwarfed by that of Ronaldinho had the Gunners been capable of wrap up a deal to signal him from Gremio in his native nation in 2001.
Arsenal had been labored on a deal, however when it was nearly wrapped up, work allow points scuppered the switch and he would finally be part of French facet Paris Saint-Germain, leaving Wenger bemoaning the near-miss.
‘We might have gotten Ronaldinho earlier than he went to PSG,’ Wenger revealed. ‘I met his brother, who’s his agent, a protracted, very long time earlier than he went to PSG – when he was 20 – however we simply couldn’t get him to England due to the foundations right here.’
The previous Brazil star went on to win the World Cup the next summer season and loved most success at membership degree at Barcelona, the place he gained the 2006 Champions League on the expense of Wenger’s facet in Paris.
Barcelona legend Ronaldinho might have joined Arsenal in 2001 earlier than leaving Gremio for PSG
Gareth Bale
One other participant who escaped from Wenger’s grasp was Tottenham’s Gareth Bale, a transfer he admitted was a ‘large mistake’.
The Frenchman had been monitoring the then Southampton participant throughout the time that the Gunners have been scouting former ahead Theo Walcott.
Walcott would finally swap St Mary’s for the Emirates in 2006, however Wenger opted in opposition to making an attempt to persuade Bale to maneuver in the identical route, believing he had sufficient gamers at left-back, however failed to understand his means to play in midfield.
Wenger opted in opposition to signing Gareth Bale from Southampton, and he went on to hitch Spurs
‘We did not take him as we had Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy and did not need one other left-back,’ Wenger mentioned in 2013.
‘I have to confess it was an enormous mistake as he can play in midfield. He struggled at first at Tottenham, then they moved him to midfield and he has finished exceptionally nicely.
‘The profession of a participant generally depends upon enjoying in the appropriate place.’
Bale would go on to hitch arch rivals Tottenham and has scored 5 targets in ten north London derbies in opposition to the Gunners, whereas additionally successful two LaLiga titles and 4 Champions Leagues at Actual Madrid following an £86m transfer in 2013.
The Welshman has scored 5 targets for Tottenham in ten north London derbies
Didier Drogba
Bale’s goalscoring report in opposition to Arsenal doesn’t examine to the torment Drogba would inflict on the Gunners.
The failure to land the Ivorian when he performed for Le Mans would come again to hang-out Arsenal as Drogba was a nemesis for Wenger’s facet – netting 13 occasions in simply 15 matches for London rivals Chelsea, together with the winner within the 2007 League Cup remaining in Cardiff.
He was firmly on the Frenchman’s radar throughout his four-year spell at Le Mans, and having additionally represented Guingamp he was noticed by Chelsea when enjoying for Marseille, and a transfer to Stamford Bridge was duly accomplished in 2004.
Wenger was considering former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba when he was at Le Mans
‘I missed him when he performed in France at Le Mans – not even within the prime league,’ Wenger admitted.
‘I knew he was good participant there and I missed him. And secondly as a result of he damage us a lot in large video games that every one this ache wouldn’t have occurred.’
Drogba gained 4 Premier League titles and the 2012 Champions League title throughout his eight-year stint in west London.
Drogba scored 13 targets in 15 video games in opposition to Arsenal, together with a winner within the 2007 League Cup remaining in Cardiff
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The borderline conceitedness of Ibrahimovic denied Wenger signing the Swede as a teen.
The pair mentioned a possible transfer however plans didn’t go the way in which of the striker as he was requested to have a trial at Arsenal, and that infamously didn’t go down nicely.
‘Arsene gave me the well-known pink and white jersey – the No 9 shirt with Ibrahimovic on it and I used to be so happy I even posed for an image sporting it. It was a incredible second for me. So then I waited for him to persuade me that I ought to be part of Arsenal.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was given the No 9 jersey at Arsenal and described it as ‘incredible’
However he was solely supplied a trial at Arsenal and that didn’t go down nicely with the younger Swede
‘However he did not even attempt. He by no means truly made me a critical provide, it was extra, ‘I need to see how good you might be, what sort of participant you might be. Have a trial’. I could not imagine it. I used to be like, ‘No manner, Zlatan does not do auditions’.’
Nonetheless, Ibrahimovic stays one of many few gamers Wenger insists he has no regrets about, regardless of his achievements at AC Milan, PSG and Barcelona, to call however a number of.
‘He was right here on the coaching floor and went elsewhere. That has occurred to many gamers. It doesn’t imply they signal for you,’ Wenger mentioned in 2012.
Ibrahimovic scored three targets in opposition to Wenger’s Arsenal, together with two for Barcelona
‘The story is true I needed to see him. I didn’t know him, you can’t signal gamers you haven’t seen in any respect as a result of it isn’t critical. He was 16. I requested him to have somewhat coaching session with the primary workforce and he did not need to do it.
‘Do I remorse it? No. I’ll proceed to try this except our scouts have seen the participant and says, ‘look he’s completely 100 per cent’. I belief them. However when any person says he has some high quality, you need a minimum of to see, in any other case you wouldn’t be critical.’
Ibrahimovic scored three targets in opposition to Wenger’s Arsenal, scoring twice for Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in a 2-2 Champions League draw on the Emirates in March 2010 earlier than netting a penalty two years later in the identical competitors for AC Milan in a 4-0 drubbing at San Siro.
He additionally netted a penalty for AC Milan in a 4-0 drubbing of Wenger’s Arsenal in February 2012
Luis Suarez
Arsenal’s provide of £40,000,001 again in the summertime of 2013, made within the perception {that a} launch clause in his Liverpool contract can be triggered, has gone down in switch window folklore.
It was shut down right away with Reds proprietor John W Henry tweeting: ‘What do you suppose they’re smoking over there on the Emirates?’
Suarez has since revealed that former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard satisfied him to disregard Arsenal’s advances and stay at Anfield. However Wenger, reflecting on the scenario mentioned: ‘We had an settlement with the participant and we had been wrongly suggested that he had a clause (in his contract).
Arsenal’s provide of £40,000,001 to Liverpool in the summertime of 2013 has gone down in folklore
‘You’ll be able to ask the participant. He’ll affirm that he needed to hitch us. Then they saved him another 12 months, improved his contract and promised to promote him to a membership overseas.’
In his e book My Life in Pink and White, which was printed final 12 months, Wenger reaffirmed this perception.
‘In 2014 [the 2013/14 season] we have been trying to get Luis Suarez over. We had an settlement with the participant and his agent. However the agent claimed that there was a clause: with a proposal above £40million, Liverpool can be obliged to let the participant go.
‘However due to an indiscretion inside Liverpool, I came upon that his clause by no means existed. To examine this was true, we supplied £40,000,001.
Suarez has scored 3 times in opposition to Arsenal, together with an acrobatic volley for Barcelona
‘This will have appeared ludicrous, I admit. However Liverpool didn’t need to promote Suarez, they might afford to maintain him and there was already a proposal from Barca on the horizon.’
Having scored two targets in opposition to Arsenal for the Reds throughout his Premier League profession, a transfer to the Camp Nou would transpire the next summer season, and he would web in opposition to the Gunners once more for his new facet within the Champions League in 2016 with an acrobatic volley.
Suarez additionally gained 4 LaLiga titles and the Champions League in 2014/15 with Barcelona.
Jadon Sancho
The Borussia Dortmund star was linked with a £100m transfer to Manchester United final summer season.
However the England winger might by no means have ended up in Bundesliga in any respect if Wenger had obtained his manner, revealing he tried to carry Sancho to Arsenal when he was enjoying in Metropolis’s youth groups.
Nonetheless, after spending two years within the youth set-up at Metropolis, the 19-year-old ended up becoming a member of German facet Dortmund, the place he has flourished into some of the thrilling kids within the sport.
‘I needed to take him from Man Metropolis when he did not get the video games,’ Wenger mentioned in 2019.
‘I attempted to lure him as a result of he is from London. I attempted to get him to. He is top-of-the-line gamers of his era. He can dribble, he has the conceitedness.’
Wenger tried to prise Jadon Sancho away from Man Metropolis earlier than he joined Borussia Dortmund
Lionel Messi
The most effective participant on this planet who was or was not near transferring to Arsenal, in keeping with who you imagine.
The Frenchman tried to nab the Argentine from Barcelona together with Pique and Fabregas, however Barcelona by no means entertained the concept.
Wenger mentioned in 2014: ‘I believe ultimately he was not so eager to maneuver. It was not utterly all the way down to a flat ultimately, it was all the way down to the truth that Messi was comfy at Barcelona.’
Wenger admits Arsenal tried to tempt a younger Lionel Messi away from Barcelona
4 years later, Wenger added: ‘With Messi, Barcelona did not need to lose him in fact they usually made [the offer] that was wanted to maintain the participant on the membership.
‘I do not actually know if Messi was . I could not get near attempt to pressure the deal as a result of Barcelona stopped that risk very early.
And chatting with beIN Sports activities earlier this week, Wenger merely mentioned: ‘Barcelona have been intelligent sufficient to maintain him.’
Messi has scored extra targets in opposition to Arsenal than every other workforce in UEFA competitors, 9 in 447 minutes comprising six video games.
Messi has scored extra targets in opposition to Arsenal than every other workforce in UEFA competitors
Cristiano Ronaldo
It is now widespread data that Ronaldo was on the verge of changing into an Arsenal participant earlier than Manchester United swooped in for his providers in a £12.24m switch from Sporting Lisbon in August 2003.
‘I confirmed him round and I gave him a shirt. It had his identify on the again,’ Wenger mentioned in 2008. ‘However ultimately it was a query of the switch charge between the 2 golf equipment.’
Ronaldo himself mentioned in 2019 he was ‘very shut, one step away’ to enjoying for United’s fierce rivals and Wenger believes that will have been a actuality if it weren’t for the intervention of Carlos Queiroz.
Cristiano Ronaldo himself mentioned in 2019 he was ‘very shut, one step away’ to enjoying for Arsenal
Queiroz joined Manchester United in 2002 as their assistant supervisor and influenced Ferguson’s determination to purchase Ronaldo.
‘He [Ronaldo] was very near becoming a member of us,’ Wenger mentioned this week.
‘The dangerous luck for us was that Carlos Quieroz joined Manchester United and within the week he persuaded [Manchester United manager Sir Alex] Ferguson to purchase Ronaldo in what was fairly a very good purchase on the time.’
Ronaldo has scored six targets in opposition to Arsenal in his profession, together with two within the Champions League semi-final second leg for United in 2009, and gone on to win the competitors and LaLiga on quite a few events.
Ronaldo has scored six targets in opposition to Arsenal, together with two in a 2009 European semi-final
Samuel Eto’o
A striker who has additionally inflicted ache on Arsenal, Wenger revealed that Arsenal have been near signing Eto’o from Mallorca in 2004 however have been crushed to him by Barcelona.
That might show an important mistake, with Eto’o scoring the equaliser within the Catalan giants’ 2-1 victory in opposition to the Gunners within the 2006 Champions League remaining.
Talking in regards to the membership’s failure to signal Makelele, Wenger mentioned: ‘Makelele was near signing for us, Samuel Eto’o too. I missed a number of.
Samuel Eto’o scored in opposition to Arsenal within the 2006 Champions League remaining however might have joined them as a substitute of Barcelona from Mallorca
‘Makelele was straight after Vieira got here, August 1996. He was nonetheless in Nantes, and Eto’o simply earlier than he joined Barcelona. It was between us and Barcelona.’
Eto’o would rating in opposition to Arsenal once more some eight years later for Chelsea, netting the opener 5 minutes in as Wenger’s 1,000th sport in control of Arsenal in April 2014 resulted in a humiliating 6-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
The Cameroonian gained the Champions League on three events in his profession in addition to three LaLiga titles.
Eto’o would rating in opposition to Arsenal once more in a 6-0 win for Chelsea in Wenger’s 1,000th sport
Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe is ready to guide the cost for Paris Saint-Germain of their quest for Champions League glory this season.
However the World Cup winner might have already got skilled English soccer if Wenger had been profitable in tempting the ahead to hitch Arsenal in 2017.
‘We discuss Mbappe and I used to be at his house when he was undecided to increase his contract at Monaco,’ Wenger mentioned.
‘He might’ve come to Arsenal without spending a dime! Each membership is filled with tales like this – you may go to AC Milan, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.’
Wenger was considering Kylian Mbappe and was at his home in 2017 when at Monaco
Mbappe confirmed that he thought of becoming a member of Wenger in north London however finally felt it was in his pursuits to maneuver to PSG.
‘I met with Arsene Wenger, who is a superb coach. He has a terrific fame right here in France, he is well-respected and is aware of learn how to develop younger gamers. This was an actual choice for me,’ he defined in 2018.
‘I dream of being managed by Arsène Wenger. He’s French, he is had a terrific profession and now he’s free as a result of he has left Arsenal. We weighed up the benefits and downsides of all of the golf equipment however my household instructed me it needed to be my determination and one I wanted to make.
‘It additionally needed to be a long-term determination. So it was as much as me and I made a decision to come back right here in an effort to develop.’
Jamie Vardy
The Gunners’ pursuit of Jamie Vardy following Leicester’s title-winning season was well-documented by all.
The north London facet would find yourself signing flop Lucas Perez that summer season nevertheless after Vardy, having agreed a deal to hitch the Emirates Stadium outfit, made a dramatic U-turn to remain on the King Energy Stadium.
‘I supplied him some huge cash on the time,’ Wenger instructed beIN Sports activities.
Wenger mentioned Jamie Vardy made a U-turn on a transfer after Leicester supplied him more cash
‘Leicester had simply gained the championship in 2016, and [Vichai] Srivaddhanaprabha on the time, who sadly after had the helicopter accident, did completely not need to lose him they usually supplied him an extended contract and roughly the identical cash, if no more.’
Vardy additionally had an unimaginable scoring report in opposition to Wenger’s Arsenal, scoring six targets in as many video games.
In October final 12 months, he took his report in opposition to the north London facet to 11 targets in 12 video games after netting the winner after coming off the bench in the newest league assembly between the perimeters.
Vardy has 11 targets in 12 video games in opposition to Arsenal, most not too long ago the winner in October final 12 months
