Cesc Fabregas to Chelsea: Spanish midfielder reveals Arsene Wenger said he would struggle to get into the Arsenal team

Gunners had first option to buy Fabregas before he moved to Stamford Bridge

Cesc Fabregas poses with his Chelsea shirt after signing (chelseafc.com)

Arsene Wenger told Cesc Fabregas he would struggle to get in the Arsenal team if he was to return to the Emirates.

The 27-year-old midfielder joined Chelsea from Barcelona in a reported £30m deal last week after the Gunners rejected the chance to sign him.

When he was sold to Barcelona, Arsenal included a clause that would give them first option to buy him back.

"We talked with Wenger but he said he'd find it hard to make a place for me on the pitch," revealed Fabregas.

"Especially as Mesut Ozil had my position covered, Wenger would find it difficult to fit me in."

Fabregas joined Arsenal as a 16-year-old and went on to make 305 appearances for Arsenal, winning the FA Cup in 2005.

He joined Barcelona in 2011 for around £25m, winning one league title, the Copa del Rey and the Club World Cup in three years.

"There were some very good options and I chose between the best two or three," added Fabregas, who is in Brazil with the Spanish World Cup squad.

Arsene Wenger said Fabregas would struggle to get in the team because the Gunners have Mesut Ozil in that position (GETTY IMAGES)

"I spoke with [Chelsea manager] Jose Mourinho and he said what I wanted to hear and things went very quickly from there.

"This is not the right moment to talk about this, though, as we need to be focused on the national team and the World Cup."