Arsene Wenger has admitted that his biggest regret during his 22-year tenure at Arsenal was failing to sign Cristiano Ronaldo. The former Gunners manager revealed how close the club came to securing the Portuguese superstar, stating that the deal was 'very, very close'.
Speaking in a Q&A with Arsenal fans, Wenger said: 'I nearly signed Ronaldo and I think that would have changed the history of Arsenal Football Club.' He also mentioned that the club had been interested in Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique, but those moves also fell through.
Wenger took charge of his final Arsenal match on the last day of the season, a 1-0 victory over Huddersfield. Reflecting on his career, he highlighted some of his successful signings, including Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas, Patrick Vieira, and Nicolas Anelka, but lamented the missed opportunity to bring Ronaldo to the Emirates.
Meanwhile, speculation continues over Wenger's successor, with former Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta emerging as a leading candidate. Arteta, currently a coach at Manchester City, was nicknamed 'Coach' by his teammates during his five years at Arsenal due to his evident ambition to move into management.
