Defenders
Centre Back: Gerard Pique
Gerard Pique was part of a triple swoop including Lionel Messi and Cesc Fabregas that Wenger had planned. The move failed though and he ended up with only Fabregas. Pique, 15 at the time, was a part of the same youth system as Fabregas and travelled to England to complete the deal.
Legal issues involving a failed work permit prevented the deal from going through. Pique joined Manchester United the next year, then moving back to Barcelona where he was part of one of the greatest teams in the modern era, winning 2 Champions Leagues and several other pieces of silverware.
Wenger was quoted as saying in 2014, “We wanted to take Fabregas, Messi and Pique. It worked only for Fabregas.”
Centre Back: Vincent Kompany
Arsene Wenger identified Vincent Kompany as a potential replacement for Sol Campbell in 2006. Inquiries were made, but yet again Wenger failed to make a concrete offer. The Belgian, swayed by his agent, decided against a move to a top club and signed for Hamburg instead.
2 years later he was scooped up by Manchester City and is now one of the best defenders in the world.
Kompany's agent Jacques Lichtenstein said, “I had meetings with Emilio Butragueno at Real Madrid, the club leaders at Barcelona and by Arsene Wenger himself at Arsenal. But heading to an absolute top club immediately was not the right solution because Vincent is someone who feels alone in an environment where he is not properly valued.
“Vincent is not a third or fourth choice. In Hamburg that was not the case.”
Centre Back: Roberto Carlos
Roberto Carlos stated that his dream would be to join Arsenal once his contract had expired at Real Madrid. With Gilberto Silva supporting Carlos’ decision to join the Gunners, a move was imminent.
Roberto told reporters,” I am ready to play in the English Premier League and know it will be suitable for me,when my contract finishes that is definitely my priority and at Arsenal there are fellow Brazilians.”
A deal never surfaced though, and the Brazilian ended up at Fenerbahce.
