Wenger: Why I snubbed Real

Wenger: Why I snubbed Real Madrid

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed he turned down the advances of Spanish giants Real Madrid this summer in order to continue building a team with style at the Emirates Stadium.

The Frenchman was heavily linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu last month, with returning president Florentino Perez keen to have the 59-year-old spearhead his latest Galactico era, with Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo already recruited for more than £100 million.

While Gunners' fans were, for the first time during Wenger's 13-year tenure in England, beginning to grow frustrated with their manager's insistence on blooding young talent rather than signing experienced heads.

However, Wenger quickly quashed the reports, insisting he was going nowhere until the end of his current contract.

And he has now revealed that he decided to snub the 31-time la Liga champions' advances because he still firmly believes in his current project in North London of succeeding with hungry, young talented footballers.

“Real Madrid is a football-oriented show, but there is another dimension in this game: the success of building a team with a style, a knowledge, a culture of your own game at a club with young people,” he said.

“This project [at Arsenal] is in construction and I want to see it through to the end.

"My enjoyment comes from seeing us play football like that.”

http://fourfourtwo.com/news/spain/33337/default.aspx

Too bad we're gonna get in your way lad!

Auld git. Can't stand wenger

Issue is if he went to Madrid they would expect him to win something, Arsenal he can go on and win nothing yet continue to be manager as long as he wants

Comes out with the same old sh*t every year. Young team, potential, great future, need time, they are only kids etc etc.

Looks like a peadophile to, so fits his idea of a young sexy team perfectly.

I think he knows he is also in total control at Arsenal there are not many decisions relating to football that he wont have the final say on i.e transfers etc. where at Madrid they would be buying players over his head and say make it work and win us a title even if Wenger did not think they would fit or were what he wanted.

some of the comments here are very childish and moronic...paedophile? FFS, what does one of those actually look like? you "hate" him? why? what has he done to you?

i wish people would grow up and post some proper opinions rather than garbage like that.

I'm suprised he didn't leave to be honest. But I suppose the level of control is a big factor. He seems to run the football side of things at Arsenal, which is rare today to see a manager with so much control. Perez runs everything at Real, he undermines every manager and is the reason I can't see Rafa leaving us for Real any time soon.

As for Wenger, his "project" at Arsenal has gone on for too long from what I've heard from Arsenal fans. They let him away with it for a few years because of the great football and the youth coming through but now they want to see some results. I think they are going to be disappointed. Liverpool, Chelsea and United are sorting out a few fringe players and the odd position in the starting XI. Arseanl have a whole team to sort out.

A valid point Wenger makes that Madrid is a show and that's all they are. Look at the millions they have spent over the last years and a few league titles and domestic cups aside they have been mediocre in Europe.

As for Wenger he has become the master of excuses of recent years it is 5 seasons now that he has gone trophyless and still maintained his job in the highest league in the world. By backing his argument with this young gunners and project bull sh*t he is bidding his time but for how long?

As for Wenger he has become the master of excuses of recent years it is 5 seasons now that he has gone trophyless and still maintained his job in the highest league in the world. By backing his argument with this young gunners and project bull sh*t he is bidding his time but for how long?

I know. How long have they been young? 5 years without a trophy, most of his young team are in their twenties now. Not that young in footballing terms. Unless his next signing is Peter Pan the "young" squad excuse will wear out!

there is no way he would have lasted at Madrid. Perez and the Madrid board can be ruthless he'd av been sacked in three months tops. Arsenal never seem to make any big name signings (with the exception of Arseshavin) these days I think that's their problem. I think Wenger likes to get his lads young and on the cheap!

May be a bad loser but you have to admire his principles.

Exactly, he stuck to his principles. I think it comes down to the fact managers here have more control than those on the continent

He still has a young team, but they have talent.  I watched some Arsenal matches and that squad is very dangerous.  I think the youth aspect is an Issue right now. It seems all we hear from Arsenal is "Youth,Youth,Youth".. They dont have enough experience to guide the youth along.  If they made a big signing and got a solid veteran and a little more experience they will be deadly.

If they can keep their key players fit , they'd do ok as they play some very attractive football, but 9 x out of 10 you see chances go begging by as they try to score the perfect goal every time must be quite frustrating for Arsenal fans to watch week in week out.

Got no tactical nous that bloke. He just plays his way no matter what and against the top sides, they get carved on the park.

If he didnt make Fabregas and Adebayor through the last 2/3 seasons, he would have been out.

 I think Wenger made a good decision not to go to Real Madrid,one only has to look at the number of managers they go through.It would be like walking on eggshells managing Real Madrid.

I think that will be Chelsea's undoing this season also, Who is going to sign for them knowing that the manager who brought them to the club may not be there the following season. Lets be honest just because one manager rates you it does not mean the next one automatically will and they may not fit in with his plans.

Obviously Wenger is not stupid and he is only a couple of good signings and some good luck with injuries away from being a genuine title threat. Why would he leave when he is still tinkering with his so called "project" looking to turn them from also ran's into champions, it is as clear as plain glass Wenger has the backing of his Board as they have hardly been successful over the last 4-5 seasons have they ?. A backing he would never receive at Real Madrid as managers performances are based solely on results & success both in Europe and Domestically.

some of the comments here are very childish and moronic...paedophile? FFS, what does one of those actually look like? you "hate" him? why? what has he done to you?

I wish people would grow up and post some proper opinions rather than garbage like that.

Are you the forum judge of all others? Do you report to the mods after a users first few posts to tell them that they are 'acceptable'.

Calling him a peadophile, quite clearly is a pisstake, it's a play on the fact that he always talks about his kids etc, not everything is meant to be taken in a literal sense.

And yes I do hate him, as I can only see one side of him (footballingwise) Then yes I hate the only part of him that I get to see.

Now come down from that moral high ground and join the rest of us

Wenger is a top manager. Madrid would have got someone who may have had what it takes to bring them out of the wilderness in Wenger and it may have been a good job to have taken at the time as Wenger would have actualy had some money at his disposal. However he has chosen to stay at Arsenal and his 1000 year plan at Arsenal has began to wear a little thin now and unless he creates a bit of magic this season Arsenal could be looking at a Uefa cup spot