I won the FA Cup with Arsenal and taught Fabregas how to speak English but I almost became a Man Utd player

PHILIPPE SENDEROS has revealed that he almost joined Man United before signing for Arsenal.

The retired Swiss footballer joined the Gunners in 2003 and won the FA Cup with the club in 2005.

However things could have been different for the defender, 38, as he admitted that he went to Man United as well as being scouted by Liverpool while he was at Swiss side Servette.

He told Ladbrokes Fanzone: “I visited Manchester United, and Liverpool came to Geneva a couple of times, but when the opportunity to go to Arsenal came along, and I visited the training ground, experienced the atmosphere around the place and heard from Arsene Wenger, there was no looking back for me.

“Everything about Arsenal just felt right for me, so it was an easy decision, despite all the noise and rumours.

I was only 18 when I joined up with the first team, and 19 when I made my debut.

“So when people look back on the majority of my time with Arsenal, before my loan moves, they forget I was only 23 or younger.

“I was learning my trade at the highest level you could ever imagine, and I felt at home straight away.”

Senderos was a rotaional player in the Gunners squad under manager Arsene Wenger.

The defender made 64 appearances for the North London side before leaving in 2010 to Fulham.

But when he first arrived he was joined by Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas in his home.

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Senderos has praised the midfielder but did reveal that he had to help him with the language when Fabregas arrived as did not speak English.

He added: “I was living in digs with Cesc Fabregas when I first moved over, as he arrived shortly after I did, so straight away we struck up a great friendship.

“We both helped each other settle into life in a new city, in a new country, and I’d do a lot of translating for him as he couldn’t speak English.

“He moved to the first team very quickly and you could see straight away that he was on a level of his own.

“It took me a little while to adapt because I faced a lot of injuries in the first full season with the club, but I loved my time there; it’s where I learned to be a professional.”

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk