Aaron Ramsey has explained that he chose to join Arsenal over Manchester United and Liverpool to boost his career.
Ramsey, 33, now returns to play for local club Cardiff Metropolis in the Championship, but spent most of his career with Arsenal, making 369 appearances for the Gunners in 11 years at the club.
He won three FA Cups while at the Emirates, scored the winner in two finals and was the studio guest on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football for Nottingham Forest against Crystal Palace.
The midfielder went into detail about his career focusing on his time at Arsenal, and spoke about joining the club when he was 17 years old and how he spoke to several other clubs.
However, he would ultimately choose the Gunners and explained why during his appearance on the Sky show.
Aaron Ramsey explained why he joined Arsenal in 2008, ahead of Liverpool and Manchester United.
Ramsey, now 33, would go on to make more than 300 appearances for Arsenal after joining Arsene Wenger (left)
After talks with Liverpool, Manchester United and Everton, he would agree a deal with the Gunners when he was 17 years old.
Ramsey was shown around Manchester United’s training ground, although it was the assistant manager at the time who did so due to the absence of manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Although Ramsey did not remember the coach’s name, it appears that it was René Meulensteen, who was Ferguson’s assistant between 2008 and 2013.
“He (Ferguson) was on the phone several times,” Ramsey said. But at that time he was the deputy director.
‘There were some conversations with Rafa (Benítez, Liverpool coach). But they couldn’t really come up with the fee. They could do something around £1m or £2m but I think they got closer to five and that was the end of it.
‘Rafa was very good and the presentation he gave was magnificent. I also went to David Moyes’ house, he was very helpful.’
Ramsey began working with Arsene Wenger, who helped him win the FA Cup three times before leaving the club in 2018.
The Welsh midfielder explained what attracted him to the Gunners, where he would continue and stand out.
‘Why Arsenal? I felt like he (Wenger) really loved me,” Ramsey said. “He was doing the Euros at the time and they took me there when he had a few hours free.
‘We had lunch… all about him, his vision and his plans. He had a very detailed plan and I was attracted by the number of young players he brought in who have continued. For example, (Cesc) Fábregas, so I felt really loved by Arsenal.”
He revealed that he spoke to Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez (pictured) although Liverpool were unable to meet the required fee.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United also spoke to Ramsey and showed him around the training ground.
Ramsey also spoke about how he was ready to commit to Arsenal before leaving the club in 2018.
Ramsey himself would leave Arsenal in 2019, signing for Juventus before going on to play for Nice and finally Cardiff.
He opened up about how he wanted to stay with the Gunners, but that in the end it wasn’t possible.
“It was a very strange time,” he said. “I wanted to commit my future to Arsenal.
“We just went through a coaching change. I said I’m happy, let’s go, then everything was a little silent. I don’t know the ins and outs of why, I imagine it was the new coach wanting to see the squad, but I didn’t see anything beyond that.
“I was Arsenal from start to finish but then everything went quiet and I had to make a decision and you can start talking to the clubs. There were some arguments.’
