Arsenal was able to beat Real Madrid out of the Champions League on Wednesday, and in particular one gunners -legend would enjoy such a result, since he closed Los Blancos to join the Gunners
Lauren once rejected a five -year contract offer from Real Madrid to become a member of Arsenal instead.
Lauren, one of the more undervalued members of the Invincibles team of Arsene Wener 2003/04, joined Real Mallorca in a £ 7 million deal in May 2000. After a first season plagued by injuries, the Cameroonian started playing a crucial role as the team's star.
He took the Premier League and FA Cup Double in 2001/02 before he made 32 performances when Arsenal secured another competition title in their historic undefeated season two years later, which strengthened his status as a club icon, even though he was a winger in Spain. However, things could have unfolded very differently if he had accepted an offer to join La Liga Giants Real Madrid in the same window in which Wenger held his approach.
The now 48-year-old, whose relocation to Roma had fallen a year earlier, says that he had discussions with Los Blancos-Maar offered the financial package by Arsenal, together with the more personal approach to Wenger and former vice-chairman David Dein, led him to sign for the Gunners instead.
Lauren opened for Marca about his career kitches and explained: “In the summer of 2000, while playing for Mallorca, we met in Madrid with Juan Onieva and he offered me a five -year contract, but the proposal of Arsenal was better and the context was not now.
“When I met Wenger in London in David's house, they convinced me because it was a more attractive project and I think I made the right choice,” Football London reports. Lauren also described his experience with Real Madrid's offer in an interview with The Mail, and added: “My representative came to Madrid, met Juan Onieva [the vice-president] And they did not reach an agreement because the economic circumstances that Madrid offered did not convince us.
“We went on a flight and immediately went to London, because there had been contact with Arsenal earlier. When we arrived we immediately went to David Dein's house. It was David Dein, his daughter who spoke Spanish, Arsene Wenger, I, my representative and a translator we had taken because my English was not in English.
“What really struck me was that I had always negotiated in an office with everyone very seriously, wore packs and tires. This was completely different. David Dein opens his home for you. His personality was spectacular, the man's treatment man was fantastic and I remained completely convinced there.
“And Wenger, with the human warmth he has, that approachable character of him. During negotiations, he did not speak too much; he listens to you, looks at you, he sees whether you have the personality to take on this challenge.
“In Madrid it was as if you had to do what they said: this is the way it is, full stop. My father is a fan of Madrid, I was always a Sevilla fan and then Madrid too, but when another club comes with a different position, how much you might like Madrid, go to where they offer you the best conditions.”
Lauren does not regret his decision to become a member of Arsenal, where he became a legend for seven years and continues to serve as a club ambassador. While Arsenal is preparing to defend their 3-0 lead in the second stage of their Champions League quart final against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu, Lauren will certainly look with pride and anticipation, hoping that his old team can secure their place in the semi-final.
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