Barcelona defender Gerard Pique admits he spoke to Arsenal before signing Manchester United as a teenager.
Pique is set to face Manchester City in the Champions League next week.
He told the Telegraph: "It was really difficult to break through to the first team and I think the best option was to leave Barcelona and go to England.
"I remember that first of all Arsenal were interested in me and I had a meeting with Arsène Wenger. I was close to going to Arsenal but the year before Cesc Fabregas went there and Arsenal and Barcelona were in a little fight and they didn't want to do the same with me. Manchester United came in and finally I went there.
"Before I signed we had a dinner with Sir Alex Ferguson and my family and I was surprised, because he was the coach of Man Utd for 20 years and he had the time to come and speak with my family and with me. I was just a young kid who had never played for a professional team but he had the time for me. We were grateful to have him in that dinner. It shows a lot about him and how he worked at United."
