Cesc Fabregas recently confirmed that though he played for several high-profile clubs, Arsenal, the club that gave him his first break and made him a star, would remain closest to his heart.
Fabregas transferred from Barcelona’s La Masia Academy to north London at only 16 in 2003, and became Arsenal’s youngest-ever first-team member months later after making his debut against Rotherham in the League Cup.
He managed to spend eight seasons at the club under Arsene Wenger, making over 300 appearances and winning the 2004-05 FA Cup. A transfer back to Barcelona and later Chelsea followed, with both periods bringing the championship trophy he was unable to achieve with the Gunners.
However, then fellow Arsenal supporter Thierry Henry told Cesc that red was his color. “When I think about you, you’re in a red jersey,” Henry said in an Instagram message to his former teammate. “I know people would say you’ve earned the league and been a Chelsea legend, but you’re an Arsenal man.”
Fabregas replied: “For the remainder of my life, I am and it would be part of me. I could never have imagined I’d have conflicting emotions for these two teams, but you go there and encounter people, you win trophies, you become important and you win titles. You end up having so much love for the club.”
Throughout his brilliant career, Fabregas starred at both Arsenal and Chelsea but acknowledges that his spell at Highbury and at the Emirates Stadium will still stick out as remarkable.
