--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I left Arsenal, it was because I had…" description: "\"When I left Arsenal, it was because I had done everything there and a big club like Real Madrid wanted me and even David Beckham couldn't turn them dow..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15e/nicolas-anelka-5255_arsenal_when-i-left-arsenal-it-was-because-i-had_2026243.jpg" --- # When I left Arsenal, it was because I had done everything… ![“When I left Arsenal, it was because I had done everything there and a big club like Real Madrid wanted me and even David Beckham couldn't turn them down.” quote by Nicolas Anelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15e/nicolas-anelka-5255_arsenal_when-i-left-arsenal-it-was-because-i-had_2026243.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15e/nicolas-anelka-5255_arsenal_when-i-left-arsenal-it-was-because-i-had_2026243.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15e/nicolas-anelka-5255_arsenal_when-i-left-arsenal-it-was-because-i-had_2026243.jpg) > “When I left Arsenal, it was because I had done everything there and a big club like Real Madrid wanted me and even David Beckham couldn't turn them down.” [Nicolas Anelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-anelka/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaving Arsenal was driven by personal achievement and a new challenge, despite loyalty to the club. **In simple terms:** He left for growth and a bigger opportunity. Key Takeaway Seek new challenges when goals are met. Themes career ambition sports transfers personal growth Mood thoughtful determined Type career personal When to use this quote - contract negotiations - team dynamics - fan reactions - media scrutiny Key Concepts professional development decision making Questions to Reflect On - What factors outweigh loyalty in career moves? - How do you handle fan disappointment? A Different Perspective Leaving a beloved club can strain relationships with fans. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arsenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arsenal/) [Arsenal Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arsenal-big-496433/) [Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big/) [Club](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/club/) [David Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/david-beckham/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Left Arsenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-arsenal-1848072/) [Madrid Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madrid-wanted-279951/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real madrid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-madrid/) ## Related quotes > [When I left Arsenal I never said I didn't like England. I was very young and my problems were all in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-anelka/when-i-left-arsenal-i-never-said-i-didn-t-like-england-i-was-very/) [Nicolas Anelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-anelka/) > [Real Madrid are Real Madrid, and any player would want to be at Real Madrid. Why would I want to leave Real Madrid? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvaro-morata/real-madrid-are-real-madrid-and-any-player-would-want-to-be-at-real/) [Alvaro Morata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvaro-morata/) > [I never said I wanted to leave Real Madrid. I never wanted that, but you have to move when they don't want you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-di-maria/i-never-said-i-wanted-to-leave-real-madrid-i-never-wanted-that-but/) [Angel Di Maria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angel-di-maria/) > [Arsenal has been always been a big club in my eyes and I've seen them win loads of trophies. To be a part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-iwobi/arsenal-has-been-always-been-a-big-club-in-my-eyes-and-i-ve-seen-them/) [Alex Iwobi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-iwobi/) > [Growing up, Arsenal were always such a big team, they were dominant and would always give you a tough game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-wright-phillips/growing-up-arsenal-were-always-such-a-big-team-they-were-dominant-and/) [Shaun Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-wright-phillips/) > [Arsenal is a very big team, and we want to win trophies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-podolski/arsenal-is-a-very-big-team-and-we-want-to-win-trophies/) [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) > [I'm always in contact with my manager at Arsenal, who has been a big part of my career, and I'll always talk to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-wilshere/i-m-always-in-contact-with-my-manager-at-arsenal-who-has-been-a-big/) [Jack Wilshere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-wilshere/) > [I was very young in the past at Arsenal, at Real Madrid as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-anelka/i-was-very-young-in-the-past-at-arsenal-at-real-madrid-as-well/) [Nicolas Anelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-anelka/) > [I left Arsenal because I wanted to develop and learn as a player and get to experience a new club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-sanchez/i-left-arsenal-because-i-wanted-to-develop-and-learn-as-a-player-and/) [Alexis Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-sanchez/) > [Nicolas Anelka left Arsenal for £23 million and they built a training ground on him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-keegan/nicolas-anelka-left-arsenal-for-23-million-and-they-built-a-training/) [Kevin Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-keegan/) > [“Whatever he may have done or had yet to achieve, on the night of 26 November 2003 David Beckham confirmed a special place for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burns-jimmy/whatever-he-may-have-done-or-had-yet-to-achieve-on-the-night-of-26/) [Burns , Jimmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burns-jimmy/) > [In comparison to the emotionally-charged axing of a striker, Ruud van Nistelrooy, who averaged 30 goals a season, even the sale of David Beckham…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-gill/in-comparison-to-the-emotionally-charged-axing-of-a-striker-ruud-van/) [Pete Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-gill/) > [I watched the games Chelsea, Arsenal and Man Utd played and players like Didier Drogba, Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and David Beckham, you name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakim-ziyech/i-watched-the-games-chelsea-arsenal-and-man-utd-played-and-players/) [Hakim Ziyech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakim-ziyech/) > [In a team like Manchester City, Arsenal, and other big clubs, it's quite difficult just to have the same 11 players starting every week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkay-gundogan/in-a-team-like-manchester-city-arsenal-and-other-big-clubs-it-s-quite/) [Ilkay Gundogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkay-gundogan/) > [With Arsenal there was an interest but not a big as other clubs. That is why I didn't go to Arsenal and went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-golo-kante/with-arsenal-there-was-an-interest-but-not-a-big-as-other-clubs-that/) [N'Golo Kante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-golo-kante/) ## More by Nicolas Anelka > [If you ask all the players who have played with me, they will never say anything wrong about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-anelka/if-you-ask-all-the-players-who-have-played-with-me-they-will-never/) [Nicolas Anelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-anelka/) > [When you have been coached by Ancelotti and other greats, it's hard to be coached by Domenech!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-anelka/when-you-have-been-coached-by-ancelotti-and-other-greats-it-s-hard-to/) [Nicolas Anelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-anelka/) > [I have been impressed by Carlo Ancelotti, Kevin Keegan, Arsene Wenger, Guus Hiddink, Christoph Daum and Sam Allardyce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-anelka/i-have-been-impressed-by-carlo-ancelotti-kevin-keegan-arsene-wenger/) [Nicolas Anelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-anelka/) > [When I started to play football as far I was concerned I just played football. I didn't want all the stuff around it, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-anelka/when-i-started-to-play-football-as-far-i-was-concerned-i-just-played/) [Nicolas Anelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-anelka/) > [Bolton was a family club and I liked it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-anelka/bolton-was-a-family-club-and-i-liked-it/) [Nicolas Anelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-anelka/) > [People must not lose sight of the fact that football is a game. I would find it healthy that it remain so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-anelka/people-must-not-lose-sight-of-the-fact-that-football-is-a-game-i/) [Nicolas Anelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-anelka/) > [If, since the start, I'd played well and put in some good matches it would all have been too simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-anelka/if-since-the-start-i-d-played-well-and-put-in-some-good-matches-it/) [Nicolas Anelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-anelka/) > [Being a coach is not the same as being a player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-anelka/being-a-coach-is-not-the-same-as-being-a-player/) [Nicolas Anelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-anelka/) > [For me, ever since the South Africa World Cup, the French team is part of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-anelka/for-me-ever-since-the-south-africa-world-cup-the-french-team-is-part/) [Nicolas Anelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-anelka/) > [When I was playing for Chelsea, it was always tough to beat Albion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-anelka/when-i-was-playing-for-chelsea-it-was-always-tough-to-beat-albion/) [Nicolas Anelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-anelka/) > [I was very young in the past at Arsenal, at Real Madrid as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-anelka/i-was-very-young-in-the-past-at-arsenal-at-real-madrid-as-well/) [Nicolas Anelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-anelka/) > [All I've ever wanted is to improve myself and become the best, which is the reason I joined Real in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-anelka/all-i-ve-ever-wanted-is-to-improve-myself-and-become-the-best-which/) [Nicolas Anelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-anelka/) > [The club must come first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-anelka/the-club-must-come-first/) [Nicolas Anelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-anelka/) > [Sometimes to rest, even to watch your team-mates from the bench, is not too bad. It is part of the game and you try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-anelka/sometimes-to-rest-even-to-watch-your-team-mates-from-the-bench-is-not/) [Nicolas Anelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-anelka/) > [I love all the clubs I play for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-anelka/i-love-all-the-clubs-i-play-for/) [Nicolas Anelka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-anelka/) [Explore all 102 Nicolas Anelka quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-anelka/) ## More Arsenal quotes > [I have always followed Arsenal in the Premier League. At some points they were really good, but also had some difficulties like a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gervinho/i-have-always-followed-arsenal-in-the-premier-league-at-some-points/) [Gervinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gervinho/) > [What do folk always say about Arsenal? They can pass you to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-adam/what-do-folk-always-say-about-arsenal-they-can-pass-you-to-death/) [Charlie Adam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-adam/) > [Don't put too much pressure on Jack Wilshere... in years to come I think he will be an Arsenal great like Liam Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-merson/don-t-put-too-much-pressure-on-jack-wilshere-in-years-to-come-i-think/) [Paul Merson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-merson/) > [As a club, we have an educational purpose: to give back to those people who love Arsenal so that they learn moral values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/as-a-club-we-have-an-educational-purpose-to-give-back-to-those-people/) [Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/) > [I want to stay at Arsenal for as long as I can, stay at the highest level and push this club back to where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-white/i-want-to-stay-at-arsenal-for-as-long-as-i-can-stay-at-the-highest/) [Ben White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-white/) > [My wish was to finish my career at Arsenal, but there are always banana skins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kolo-toure/my-wish-was-to-finish-my-career-at-arsenal-but-there-are-always/) [Kolo Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kolo-toure/) > [I was at Arsenal as an 11-year-old. I really enjoyed it but I was at school and my dad used to drive me there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-noble/i-was-at-arsenal-as-an-11-year-old-i-really-enjoyed-it-but-i-was-at/) [Mark Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-noble/) > [Captaining your country, going out at Wembley, captaining Arsenal to 10 trophies, playing your first game - they're all amazing things. But, phew, saving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-adams/captaining-your-country-going-out-at-wembley-captaining-arsenal-to-10/) [Tony Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-adams/) > [I was always respectful to Arsene and I think he respected me for that. We had a good relationship and understanding. We spoke a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukasz-fabianski/i-was-always-respectful-to-arsene-and-i-think-he-respected-me-for/) [Lukasz Fabianski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukasz-fabianski/) > [If you think about it, Washington's overwhelming power in the world is founded on death, the awesome arsenal for killing people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greider/if-you-think-about-it-washington-s-overwhelming-power-in-the-world-is/) [William Greider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greider/) > [A club like Arsenal is a fabulous club, it is a well-run club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/a-club-like-arsenal-is-a-fabulous-club-it-is-a-well-run-club/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [I don't think there was a danger of chaos at Arsenal. We have a fantastic manager who knows how to run the club. 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