My son rejected Manchester United for Arsenal but I wanted him to join Real Madrid
Very few players would turn down a move to Real Madrid, especially at the peak of the club's Galactico era.
Even less would reject the tempting offer when it involves overruling a parent who is a huge Los Blancos fan, but Philippe Senderos was never in any doubt that Arsenal was the right destination for him.
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In 2002, the defender had the world at his feet after captaining Switzerland's Under-17 side to European glory, with Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Manchester United all battling the Gunners for his signature.
Ultimately however, the then 18-year-old settled on a move to north London from Swiss outfit Servette, much to the disappointment of his father and agent, Julian.
After helping his son say no to the prospect of lining up alongside Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham among other huge names, he discussed the difficulty of the decision for him.
Julian, who is Spanish, said at the time: "Of course I would have preferred him to join Real.
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"It is not easy to say: 'no' to Real. I strove to do it with tact."
Despite his father having to put aside personal preferences, with Senderos revealing him to be a Real supporter in a 2020 , the transfer was a no-brainer for the centre-back.
Speaking to in April 2023, the former Swiss international explained: "I'd been in Germany to visit Bayern Munich's training ground with my family on a couple of occasions, but really I was just waiting for the English clubs to call, because I really wanted to play in the Premier League.
He then revealed that legendary manager Arsene Wenger had helped him to make up his mind: "I visited Manchester United, and Liverpool came to Geneva a couple of times.
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"But when the opportunity to go to Arsenal came along, and I visited the training ground, experienced the atmosphere around the place and heard from Arsene Wenger, there was no looking back for me.
"Everything about Arsenal just felt right for me, so it was an easy decision, despite all the noise and rumours."
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Unfortunately for Senderos, however, his arrival at Highbury in the summer of 2003 was slightly less plain sailing.
The Geneva native suffered multiple injuries in his first year at the club, causing him to miss the entirety of Arsenal's historic 'Invincibles' season.
It was a squad blessed with elite players much like Real given Thierry Henry was the leading man and very competitive. "Whether it's playing cards or having a little friendly bet with you, he was the most - and he still is the most - competitive guy I've ever met," Senderos told talkSPORT.
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And while he failed to make more than 20 league appearances in a single campaign in north London by the time he departed for Fulham in 2010, a Gunners career highlight for Senderos came against his former suitors.
The ex-Switzerland captain played a key role in the club's run to their first and only European Cup final in the 2005/06 season.
Aged 21 at the time, the defender put in career-best displays over two legs against Real Madrid in the competition's last 16, keeping clean sheets in both games as Arsenal recorded a 1-0 aggregate win.
Reflecting on the memorable encounters, in which he kept the likes of Beckham and Zidane at bay he told marvelbet369.com in April: "It was unbelievable.
"First, to play against Real Madrid with my dad being Spanish, was a very big deal.
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"I grew up supporting Real Madrid all my life, so playing at the Bernabeu was realising a dream. It was incredible to play against these legends of the game."
Senderos hung up his boots in 2019 in his home country with Chiasso, having enjoyed loan spells at AC Milan and Everton whilst at Arsenal, before further stints at Fulham, Aston Villa and Rangers among others.
At Milan he played alongside Paolo Maldini, Beckham and Ronaldinho, whom he called a magician. "He would do things on the ball that I'd never seen tricks like this, in training but in the games it was the same.
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"You give him a square and he makes it a circle, he would make any bad ball a good ball. He had this ability to go past people as well - a magician."
With Senderos' first club, Servette, set to battle English giants Chelsea in their upcoming Europa Conference League qualifiers, the 57-cap former Swiss international will be hoping his old club can inflict misery on Arsenal's rivals.
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