Michael Carrick reveals Cesc Fabregas blocked him from joining Arsenal
In an extract from his book he explained about how he was going to join the Gunners
Michael Carrick, former England international and now Jose Mourinho's assistant at Manchester United, revealed that Cesc Fabregas stopped him from moving to Arsenal.
Carrick played over 450 times for Manchester United but the reality is that he was close to coming to sign for Arsene Wenger's side while when at West Ham United.
“We were driving past his home in north London, so we arranged to call in on the way,” Carrick said in his autobiography, published by The Times. “Within an hour I was sitting in the front room of Arsène Wenger’s house, pinching myself. Could this really be happening? Arsenal! Could I really be on the verge of signing for the Invincibles who’d just gone through the season unbeaten?"
Carrick was excited to play in the side as the replacement for Patrick Vieira, but in the Community Shield Cesc Fabregas, then 17, played brilliantly against Manchester United.
“I saw that a kid, Cesc Fàbregas, only 17, started in Vieira’s place. Fàbregas played a blinder but I didn’t think too much about the significance. I sat at home on Sunday night waiting for the call to arrange details of the next day. Arsenal! I couldn’t wait,” continued Carrick.
“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.”
Eventually Tottenham signed him, before he moved to Man United.
