Manchester United legend Michael Carrick: I would’ve joined Arsenal if Cesc Fabregas hadn’t played a blinder in 2004 Community Shield
MICHAEL CARRICK'S dream Arsenal move fell through because Cesc Fabregas "played a blinder" in the Community Shield.
The former Tottenham and Manchester United midfielder was itching to leave West Ham for Premier League football in 2004.
After arranging to go to Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth for a medical, Gunners chief David Dein called and asked Carrick to stop by Arsene Wenger's house for a chat.
In his autobiography Michael Carrick: Between The Lines, serialised by , he said: "Arsene Wenger was at the peak of his powers at the time, a giant of management, and it felt surreal to be there talking to him in his front room.
“'Tell me about yourself, Michael,' Wenger said. 'What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?'
"We talked for almost an hour about football.
"Wenger had the Community Shield at the weekend but was spending an hour with me, so surely he had to be interested in signing me?
“'Let’s get Cardiff out the way, and we’ll see you Monday,' Wenger said as we left."
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Carrick, now a coach at United, immediately called Redknapp to tell him he had decided to join the Invincibles.
He watched Arsenal beat the Red Devils 3-1 in the Community Shield on TV and was relishing linking up with the star-studded players in the team.
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Carrick said: "I saw that a kid, Cesc Fabregas, only 17, started in Vieira’s place.
"Fabregas played a blinder but I didn’t think too much about the significance.
Fabregas’ performance changed Wenger’s mind about needing me. I was totally devastated as I had my heart set on Arsenal
Michael Carrick: Between The Lines
"I sat at home on Sunday night waiting for the call to arrange details of the next day. Arsenal! I couldn’t wait.
"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. Fabregas is coming through like he is. Sorry, the deal’s off.'
";Fabregas’ performance changed Wenger’s mind about needing me.
"I was totally devastated as I had my heart set on Arsenal and playing with all that talent."
Carrick instead ended up joining Arsenal's rivals Tottenham that summer, where he played 64 times before moving to United in 2006.