'I turned down Real Madrid for Arsenal – it was the best decision I ever made'

After a standout play with Mallorca, Lauren received a wealthiness of involvement from the likes of Real Madrid and Roma, but helium yet decided to marque the determination to Highbury nether Arsene Wenger

Laureano Bisan-Etame Mayer has confessed that snubbing Real Madrid successful favour of Arsenal was the champion prime helium ever made successful his career.

Better known by 'Lauren', the 47-year-old right-back broke done astatine Utrera successful 1995 earlier making the determination to Sevilla's B team, Levante and Mallorca. A breakthrough play successful the second attracted a wealthiness of involvement from the likes of Real Madrid and Roma, but the Cameroonian yet decided to marque the power to Arsenal successful a £500,000 woody successful the summertime of 2000.

Speaking to the Daily Mail successful 2020 astir wherefore helium decided to snub the Bernabeu successful favour of Highbury, cult leader Lauren explained: "My typical came to Madrid, met Juan Onieva [the vice-president] and they didn't scope an statement due to the fact that the economical conditions that Madrid offered didn't person us.

"We got connected a formation and went consecutive to London, due to the fact that determination had been interaction with Arsenal before. When we arrived we went consecutive to David Dein's [Vice-chairman astatine the time] house. It was David Dein, his girl – who spoke Spanish – Arsene Wenger, me, my representative, and a translator who we had brought with america due to the fact that my English was non-existent.

"What truly struck maine was that I had ever negotiated successful an bureau with everyone precise serious, wearing suits and ties. This was wholly different. David Dein opens his location to you. His property was spectacular, the attraction antheral to antheral was fantastic and I near determination wholly convinced.

"And Wenger, with that quality warmth helium has, that approachable quality of his. During negotiations helium didn't talk excessively much; helium listens to you, watches you, he's seeing if you person the property to beryllium capable to instrumentality connected this challenge."

Lauren besides explained that contempt being a Madrid instrumentality successful his youth, helium explained that Arsenal offered a small much flexibility successful presumption of however helium would beryllium capable to play.

He continued: "At Madrid it was similar you had to bash what they said: this is the mode it is, afloat stop. My dada is simply a Madrid fan, I was ever a Sevilla instrumentality and past Madrid arsenic well, but erstwhile different nine comes on with different cognition nevertheless overmuch you mightiness person liked Madrid, you spell to the spot wherever they dainty you champion and wherever they connection you the champion terms.

"The mode that Dein and Wenger acted struck us. It wasn't travel to the club, it was travel to my house. Come to beryllium with my family, successful my home. Come to articulation us."

When asked if choosing Arsenal implicit Real Madrid was the champion prime he'd ever made successful his career, the full-back added: "Totally, without doubt. Playing with the champion players, astatine an instauration similar Arsenal, successful England, and with the antheral who, for me, was the champion manager a young subordinate could have."

While playing alongside the likes of Iker Casillas, Fernando Hierro, Roberto Carlos, Luis Figo and Raul Gonzalez whitethorn person had its benefits, it seems arsenic though Lauren made the close determination by choosing the Gunners implicit the Galacticos.

The right-back lifted 2 Premier League titles nether Wenger, and was an imperative portion of his 2003/04 'Invincibles' squad which won the league without suffering a azygous decision – featuring successful 32 games for the Gunners that season. The footballer besides lifted 3 FA Cups and 2 Community Shields with Arsenal earlier transferring to Portsmouth successful 2007. He retired successful 2010 pursuing a mates of months with Cordoba.

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