WENGER I’M HAPPY I TURNED DOWN OFFER TO REPLACE FERGIE AT MAN UTD... NO REGRETS
Gunners boss breaks silence on THAT approach in 2002
ARSENE WENGER has sensationally admitted he turned down the chance to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
And in a clear dig at Old Trafford, Wenger claimed that he snubbed United as he preferred the values at Arsenal.
Former United chairman Martin Edwards made the bombshell revelation that Wenger was their first choice to replace Ferguson in 2002 in his new book.
Ex-United boss Ferguson announced his intention to retire in the 2001-02 season only to perform a dramatic U-turn and stay on at Old Trafford for another 11 years.
At the time, United and Arsenal were deadly rivals and, even though their relationship has thawed, Wenger and Ferguson were fierce managerial enemies. It would have been an incredible defection. But Wenger – who has also had chances to manage Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and France during 20 years at Arsenal – admitted that he did meet United and seriously consider it.
He also hinted that the Gunners’ own values have changed as the club have grown bigger.
Wenger said: “I was always happy here, people were happy with me and I was happy. Because I love the values of this club and a club is about values first.
“One day it would be a good chat to have with the press to look at the evolution.
“You speak about Man United, the evolution in the last 20 years would be very interesting.
“A lot has changed but when I came here this club was about values that I love in sport. That is why I am still in the competition.
“I always question myself. Yes, of course, Man United is attractive but am I happy here? The answer was yes.
“It is too long to talk about that but it is quite an interesting subject that you know as well as I do, but a lot has changed.
“When I arrived here we were 80 people, today we are 700.
“Sometimes I come across somebody inside our club who I know, that is quite new. Most of them I don’t know anymore. We have changed a lot.”