Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas has refused to rule out completing his "dream" move to Barcelona in the future, and also revealed previous interest from Real Madrid.
Fabregas, 23, seemed poised to switch to the Nou Camp in the summer after Barca led a very public chase for his signature. Manager Arsene Wenger stood firm, however, and the club's hierarchy rejected two substantial bids to leave Fabregas in north London.
Speaking to Cope.es, the Spain World Cup 2010 winner hinted that, while happy at the Emirates, he would continue to chase a transfer back to his native Catalonia.
"My answer in that moment was Barcelona and I still think that I wasn't wrong because it is a dream I have had since I was a child," Fabregas said
"I am happy about the whole episode. It couldn't be, but I still think it was a good opportunity, but I am happy in Arsenal, I have a leadership role.
"We have he quality to win titles, but we didn't have a winning mentality until now."
The playmaker also described Wenger as "like a second father" and the difficulty in telling him of his desire to leave.
"The truth is that the coach is like a second father, I did not have to lie. I told him what I thought," the Barca youth product added.
"[They] were difficult moments. Everything was diluted during the World Cup but he did not want me out of there.
"In the end, when I spoke with Wenger, he told me that the transfer was impossible."
Fabregas also declared that Real Madrid have shown an interest in his services. But if he moves back to La Liga, he will follow his "heart" and link up with Barca.
"I'm not saying which teams asked for me, but I know that Real Madrid and Barcelona have asked for me during these past seven years. I have the luck that the two clubs have asked about me and that's very important as that does not happen every day," he was quoted as saying in Marca.
"However, during the summer I was honest and spoke from the heart. During the whole summer I have known this."
