Gunners legend Lauren reveals why he turned down Real Madrid to join Arsenal

Gunners legend Lauren reveals why he turned down Real Madrid to join Arsenal

Former Arsenal right-back Lauren has revealed that he turned down Real Madrid, after Arsene Wenger convinced him to join the premier league side.

While, Gunners legend has warned Real’s arch rivals Barcelona that they will find it hard to match the achievements of famous “Invincibles” side.

Gunners legend Lauren reveals why he turned down Real Madrid to join Arsenal

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“If Barca are at 100%, no team can stand up to them. Barça will end up as champions of whatever competition they want to win,” admitted conceded during an interview with AS.

“It was fairly informal. I met up with David Dein and Arsene Wenger on the outskirts of London. They offered me a cup of tea and we talked about football. I took that as their way of trying to figure me out psychologically, as they already knew what I was like on the pitch,” he said. “[Candidate for the 2000 Real Madrid presidency, Juan] Onievamade me an offer to join Madrid but it was the encouragement I got from Wenger that convinced me Arsenal was the place for me.

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“Wenger always looked further ahead – he was very forward-thinking. When he told us that Highbury would be demolished one day, we thought he was talking another language, but he knew that was the future for the club.

Gunners legend Lauren revelas why he turned down Real Madrid to join Arsenal“It was time to move from the likes of [Lee] Dixon, and [Tony] Adams… the team that played to win 1-0 evolved into a side which played brilliant, dynamic football,” Lauren added. “But it was a different story inside the dressing room. Wenger was very strict about what we ate, he would even control the vitamin supplements we had to take. We had to eat leafy, green vegetables at least once a day… The old guard didn’t like that because they did whatever they liked. In the long run it was a battle that Wenger won. It was the modern way.