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Wenger admits Real snub
Arsenal, 09:08, October 19, 2009 ,
Arsene Wenger says he turned down Real Madrid in the summer because he wants to develop his young Arsenal side further.
The Spanish giants were pursuing a move for the Arsenal boss and even though the Frenchman admits he was tempted to join the club he supported as a boy, he says he has a job to finish at the Emirates Stadium.
Wenger is bringing through another crop of exciting youngsters and says he it owes to them and the club to move them on to the next level.
"Real is the club of my childhood. When I was a kid, watching those guys in white, winning everything, then of course I am attracted by that club, but I have a pact with the young players of my team, and I want to succeed with that bet," Wenger told L'Equipe.
"I identified what was important in my job: freedom. Here, I have it. I could have earned bigger wages at Real, but I earn a good living in London. At my age, money can't play a key role."