Arsenal legend Robert Pires reveals Arsene Wenger once sent him a PRIVATE JET to stop him signing for Real Madrid

JET-HEELED Robert Pires has revealed Arsene Wenger sent a private plane to snatch him for Arsenal ahead of Real Madrid and Juventus. Wenger swooped for the legendary French winger 22 years ago, turning him into a star member of the Gunners’ 2003-4 Invincibles. But Pires admits he was a Real fan as a kid and even […]

JET-HEELED Robert Pires has revealed Arsene Wenger sent a private plane to snatch him for Arsenal ahead of Real Madrid and Juventus.

Wenger swooped for the legendary French winger 22 years ago, turning him into a star member of the Gunners’ 2003-4 Invincibles.

News Group Newspapers Ltd

Robert Pires became an outstanding part of Arsenal’s unbeaten 2003-4 Premier League winners under Arsene Wenger[/caption]

But Pires admits he was a Real fan as a kid and even posed in a Madrid top shortly before Arsenal leapt in to sign him from Marseille.

The 1998 World Cup winner, 48, told L’Equipe: “In 2000, I was lucky to have Real, Juve, Arsenal…A very hard choice.

“Everyone told me that I was crazy not to have gone to Real. 

“It was very heated though. I even took the photo with the Real jersey during the Euros in Belgium! For the newspaper AS, I believe. 

“And everything happened very quickly.

“Arsene (Wenger) called me and upset my plans… he sends me a plane, I pass the medical visit and I sign.”

The two-time Premier League winner claims he was lured by the Gunners having fellow French superstars Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira, plus a home-country boss in Wenger,

Pires said: “Arsenal with him, Titi (Henry), Pat (Vieira), it’s reassuring. 

FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

“It’s a stable club, especially after my difficult season at OM and knowing that in Madrid, things could explode at any time. 

“However, when I was younger, I was a fan of Real and Michel.”

Pires also helped the Gunners win the FA Cup twice before departing for Villarreal in 2006.

He had a short spell at Aston Villa in 2010-11 before briefly coming out of retirement four seasons later with Indian club FC Goa.

Get all the latest Arsenal news, updates and transfer gossip with our live blog