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Arsenal already had Ozil, so didn't need me - Fabregas

Cesc Fabregas signed for Chelsea on a five-year deal © Getty Images

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Cesc Fabregas has revealed that he signed for Chelsea rather than Arsenal as Arsene Wenger was unable to accommodate both him and Mesut Ozil.

Fabregas signed a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge on Thursday following a reported €33 million switch from Barcelona. A clause his contract at the La Liga side entitled Arsenal to first refusal on their former midfielder, who previously spent eight years in north London.

However, while he initially said he chose Chelsea because they matched his ambition, Fabregas has now revealed Wenger turned down the opportunity to re-sign him because his place in the team had been filled by club-record signing Ozil.

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Jose Mourinho is keen for success © Getty Images

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"When I decided that my time at Barcelona had ended, I looked for the best option for me," Fabregas said. "Arsenal was the first option, for contractual reasons. There was a clause that gave them the right to decide.

"We spoke to Wenger and he said that the space was very well filled by Mesut Ozil and it was hard to find a place for both of us in the team."

It was only after it became clear Fabregas would be unable to return to Arsenal that Jose Mourinho convinced him to move to Chelsea.

The 27-year-old said that, despite having several options to secure a return to the Premier League, Mourinho had "won him over" with his ambition to restore success at Chelsea.

"I wanted to go back to the Premier League and I had to think about what my options were then," he said. "I had many very good offers, the logical options.

"I spoke to Jose Mourinho and he told me that he wanted me there. He convinced me very, very quickly. He told me what I wanted to hear; he won me over and convinced me.

"It was very quick. I am very happy, very satisfied and I think it will all go phenomenally well."

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