Former Arsenal favourite Alexander Hleb has delivered a poignant and emotional account of his decision to leave the club in 2008, admitting he was left 'devastated' and in tears by manager Arsene Wenger's last-ditch attempt to keep him in North London.
The Heartbreaking Exit from North London
In a candid reflection, the Belarusian international, who spent three formative years at Arsenal between 2005 and 2008, described his departure for Barcelona as a choice he soon deeply regretted. Hleb was a key figure in the Arsenal side that reached the 2006 Champions League final and became a crucial creative force in the post-'Invincibles' era at the Emirates Stadium.
His impressive performances attracted the attention of Pep Guardiola's Barcelona, making Hleb one of the Catalan coach's inaugural signings. However, the midfielder has now revealed the intense personal turmoil that accompanied his high-profile transfer. "It's still difficult for me to explain why I left Arsenal," Hleb confessed in a recent interview. "I was absolutely happy there. Arsene completely trusted me, it was idyllic. And then I decided to leave."
Wenger's Personal Plea and a Painful Realisation
The moment of truth came while Hleb was on holiday, being persuaded by agents that a move to the Spanish giants was essential. He admits he didn't fully comprehend the gravity of his decision until it was almost too late. "At some point, I realised, 'Oh god! I'm leaving Arsenal!'" he recalled.
The most crushing blow came from his manager. "When Arsene said that it was a matter of hours, I felt devastated," Hleb stated. Wenger fought hard to retain his player, culminating in a personal text message that reduced Hleb to tears. "He even texted me as I was fishing. 'Alex, I won't let you go, we need you here.' I cried when I read it," the former star revealed, highlighting the profound father-son bond he felt with the legendary French coach.
A Dream Move That Turned Sour
Despite joining a Barcelona squad that would achieve an historic treble in the 2008/09 season, Hleb's dream move rapidly unravelled. He made a total of 36 appearances for Barca, with only 19 starts, and failed to score a single goal. His nadir came when he was omitted from the squad for the 2009 Champions League final in Rome, a decision he described as feeling like "a knife in my back".
"I never spoke to Guardiola after that," Hleb admitted, though he took some personal responsibility, conceding he "didn't behave well enough" himself. His time at the Camp Nou effectively ended after that first season, with subsequent years spent on loan at Stuttgart, Birmingham City, and Wolfsburg.
Reflecting on his struggles in Spain, Hleb blamed his own failure to adapt, but his affection for Arsenal and Wenger never wavered. "Wenger is like a father to me. It was really easy to work with him, you always felt his support," he explained, contrasting this with his experience in Barcelona.
A Lasting Legacy of Regret and Loyalty
Hleb, who made 130 appearances for the Gunners, clearly wishes he had extended his stay under Wenger's guidance. He recalled an earlier instance of the manager's unwavering faith, when Wenger dismissed Hleb's suggestion of a loan move while recovering from injury in his first season. "He was like, 'Stop it! I believe in you! Don't even think about things like that,'" Hleb remembered. "Honestly? I just flew out of the room. It really felt like I had wings."
In closing, Hleb paid tribute to Wenger's unique man-management, a quality he believes led many former players to rue their departure. "Arsene truly feels his players. He says exactly what a player needs to hear... And I think most players who left ultimately regretted it," he concluded, offering a stark warning to any current Arsenal players contemplating an exit in search of more playing time.
