Former Arsenal winger Alexander Hleb has opened up about the profound regret he felt after leaving the Gunners, admitting a heartfelt text from legendary manager Arsene Wenger moved him to tears as he finalised his exit.
The Painful Departure from North London
In a candid reflection, the Belarusian international, who was a key figure in the post-Invincibles era, described his 2008 move to Barcelona as a decision he soon came to rue. Hleb spent three years at Arsenal, making 130 appearances and helping the team reach the 2006 Champions League final, before becoming one of Pep Guardiola's first signings at the Catalan club.
"It's still difficult for me to explain why I left Arsenal," Hleb confessed in a 2023 interview. "I was absolutely happy there. Arsene completely trusted me, it was idyllic. And then I decided to leave." He revealed that while on holiday, he was persuaded by agents to make the switch, a choice he later didn't fully understand.
Wenger's Fatherly Role and the Emotional Text
The moment of realisation hit hard. "At some point, I realised, 'Oh god! I'm leaving Arsenal!'" he said. His devastation was compounded when Wenger confirmed the transfer was hours away. The manager fought to keep him, culminating in a poignant message. "He even texted me as I was fishing," Hleb recalled. "'Alex, I won't let you go, we need you here.' I cried when I read it."
Hleb's bond with Wenger was clearly more than professional. "Wenger is like a father to me," he explained. "It was really easy to work with him, you always felt his support." He cited an example from his first season when, recovering from injury, Wenger dismissed his suggestion of a loan move with unwavering belief, an act that made Hleb feel he "had wings."
A Dream Move That Turned Sour
Despite joining a Barcelona side that would achieve a historic treble in 2009 under Guardiola, Hleb's experience was far from dreamlike. He made 36 appearances for Barca, starting only 19 games, and failed to score. The nadir came when he was left out of the squad for the 2009 Champions League final in Rome, a decision he labelled "a knife in my back."
"I never spoke to Guardiola after that," Hleb stated, though he admitted some personal responsibility for not adapting to life in Spain. His time at the Camp Nou effectively ended after one season, with subsequent loan spells at Stuttgart, Birmingham City, and Wolfsburg.
Reflecting on players who left Arsenal, Hleb offered a telling conclusion: "I think most players who left ultimately regretted it." His own story stands as a powerful testament to the unique environment fostered by Arsene Wenger and the lasting emotional pull of a club he still clearly holds dear.
