Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has confirmed that he held a number of talks with Arsène Wenger as he tried to tempt the Arsenal manager to Spain.
Daily Mirror journalist John Cross is releasing a book on Wenger’s time in London and has spoken to a number of people on the Arsenal boss. It’s widely known that Wenger has been chased by some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Real Madrid
“He was talking to me about Real Madrid and, at that time, he was very interested in the club and what was happening,” Calderon is quoted as saying in Arsene Wenger: The Inside Story of Arsenal under Wenger.
“I remember he said: ‘Are you going to Hollywood again, or to make a football team?’ He meant are you going for film star Galacticos or to make a proper football team.”
The Galacticos era at Real Madrid failed miserably, as superstars were signed to make something of a ‘dream team’ without actually considering the balance of skills and mentalities a football team requires.
After the addition of David Beckham meant Claude Makelele was sold, midfielder Zinedine Zidane famously remarked: “Why put another layer of gold paint on the Bentley when you are losing the entire engine?”
As we all know Wenger is against the irresponsible spending of money and, though the manager loves to field as many attacking players as possible, he wouldn’t have liked that part of life in Madrid. However, that didn’t stop Calderon from trying to tempt the Frenchman to the Spanish capital.
“I imagine that anyone – be it a coach or a player – at some time in their career is interested in coming to a club like Real Madrid, especially when you have been at a club for fifteen years, or however long, in England,” said the former Real Madrid president.
“Anyone working in any other industry would be interested in change. I think it’s a good idea to have a coach who has a long-term plan.
“Things didn’t work out and he has clearly loved his time at Arsenal…[Wenger] is respectful.”
There’s no doubt Arsenal’s recent history would’ve gone differently had the manager left for Real Madrid, or anyone else for that matter. The move to Emirates Stadium may not have happened or certainly would have gone less smoothly.
No matter what some fans may think of him or the job he has done recently, the Gunners can count themselves incredibly lucky to have a manger who cares about the club as much as Arsène Wenger does.