Fabregas signed for Arsenal from the Catalan-based club in 2003 at the age of 16, and went on to play for the first team until 2011.
The Spaniard’s time in North London was however blighted by lack of silverware, winning only the FA Cup in 2005 against Manchester United.
In an interview with Arseblog, Fabregas has cited a lot of reasons why he left the Emirates Stadium.
The 32-year-old admitted he felt Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri were the only players "on his level" and that he had many "sleepless nights.”
“I was the captain, I always felt so much pressure on myself, had to lead this team to win something, I gave everything and sometimes, I used to go home after we lost and I used to cry,” Fabregas said.
“Sleepless nights suffering, and then you lose a game, you’re in the bus like this, destroyed, and then you hear some players laughing, thinking about where they will be going out later.”
“We were playing beautiful football and I enjoyed that side of things, but I felt kind of lonely, especially in the last two or three years.”
“I felt Robin and Samir were the only players who were at my level mentally and technically.”
“Many things came in my head, I have to admit I was a bit empty, I was drained mentally, physically.”
“In my soul knowing I’m giving everything, knowing a few signings the club could have made but didn’t happen.”
“Seeing some behaviors from certain players or something like this made me feel I wanted to check something else.”
“If it was not because of that, I would not have left Arsenal at that time.”
Fabregas made 303 appearances across all competitions under Arsene Wenger before returning to the Nou Camp, later joining Chelsea, and now plays for Monaco in Ligue 1.
