Wenger's Anelka regret

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed that he regrets selling Nicolas Anelka in 1999 to Real Madrid, despite receiving an enormous bid for the Frenchman. He also backed Anelka to succeed at his new club Chelsea.

“It is my biggest regret that he moved from Arsenal at that time [in 1999] because I felt at that time he was a star here,” said Wenger.

“When he left he was a regular member in the French squad. He moved to Real Madrid, Thierry Henry moved here and Thierry played in the European Championship but Nicolas didn’t play.

“I still believe that at that time it was a big mistake that move. But there are two lessons: the first one is you need to be at the right club at the right moment. And the second is that when you have as much talent as Nicolas you can always bounce back because the talent at that level is not everywhere.”