Cesc Fabregas has revealed how sad it is for him to leave the English Premier League for the second time as he joins Thierry Henry’s Monaco in France.
Fabregas first left the EPL when he made a move from Arsenal to Barcelona. He however returned to sign for Chelsea.
The 31-year old has now secured a move from Chelsea to Monaco on a three-and-a-half-year deal for a reported fee of 10 million euros ($11.5 million).
“It was tricky for me to leave after 13 years in England. I started my career there, won a lot of trophies, played for two top clubs, and made more than 500 appearances. I sometimes even feel more English than Spanish,” said Fabregas as he spoke to journalists in Monaco on Wednesday.
“Three months ago I wasn’t thinking about leaving Chelsea, but the circumstances helped,” he said.
“I was getting less game time. At first it was a surprise for me, but I came to the decision with my family. It is the best thing for my future. I feel like a young player again and can’t wait to get playing.”
Speaking about reuniting with former Arsenal teammate Thierry Henry who manages Monaco, Fabregas said,
“Thierry helped me a lot when I was young. He is one of the best players I have played with. This is a huge challenge. I am here to help him but also to help the club,” he added, with Monaco currently languishing in the Ligue 1 relegation zone.
“The club are not in a good position. We are in a negative moment but we can turn it around. The objective is to save the team and go far in the Cup to try to get into Europe next season. Everyone is looking at the challenge in a positive way.”