Cesc Fabregas: why l left Arsenal

Especially in the last two or three years, I felt Robin and Samir were the only players – it’s not an arrogant thing to say, it’s how I felt at that time – were the players who were at my level mentally and technically.

The Spaniard said he left the Gunners for a number of reasons from not be able to cope with the pressure as captain, the team inability to sign players and poor relationship with his team-mates.

Cesc Fabregas joined the Gunners at a very young age from Barcelona where he later moved on to London club Chelsea, the world cup winner currently plays in league 1 for as Monaco.

In an interview with Arseblog, the 32-year-old spoke openly about his decision to leave Arsenal in 2011.

“I was the captain, I always felt so much pressure on myself,” Fabregas said. “I had to lead this team to win something. I gave everything. Sometimes, I used to go home after we lost and I used to cry.

I used to suffer, I used to spend sleepless nights suffering. And then you lose a game, you’re in the bus like this, destroyed, and then you hear some players laughing, thinking about where they will be going out later.

“This was going on for a few years. We were playing beautiful football and I enjoyed that side of things but I was putting pressure on myself to lead, to do everything and at one point I felt kind of lonely.

“Especially in the last two or three years, I felt Robin and Samir were the only players – it’s not an arrogant thing to say, it’s how I felt at that time – were the players who were at my level mentally and technically.

Many things came in my head, I have to admit I was a bit empty, I was drained mentally, physically, in my soul knowing I’m giving everything, knowing a few signings the club could have made but didn’t happen.

“Seeing some behaviours from certain players or something like this made me feel I wanted to check something else. If it was not because of that, I would not have left Arsenal at that time.”

As Monaco Cesc Fabregas made 303 appearances for the Arsene Wenger Managed Arsenal team after nine years.