'I regret leaving Arsenal for Barcelona'

Alexander Hleb has admitted that he regrets leaving Arsenal and “father figure” Arsene Wenger to join Barcelona in 2008. 

Having spent three years in London the midfielder left the Gunners to join Barcelona for €15 million, with Pep Guardiola recruiting him due to his technical ability. 

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However, it never worked out for the midfielder in Spain, with Hleb only making 19 appearances and going out on loan three times over a four-year spell. 

Now 35 and playing for BATE Borisov for the fourth separate time in his native country, Hleb has reflected on his career decision and in hindsight wishes he’d stayed under the wing of Wenger for longer. 

“Part of me regrets not staying at Arsenal – Wenger was like a father to me and he trusted me,” told Reuters, as reported by Football Espana. 

“It saddens me to think about it, but at the same time, Barcelona was – and is – the bigger club. I didn’t play as much, but I did play a bit.”