Arsene Wenger reveals why he snubbed Real Madrid

Arsene Wenger last night revealed for the first time why he rejected the chance to leave Arsenal for Real Madrid.

The Gunners chief urged the world of football to avoid making "moral judgements" about the Bernabeu side, after admitting he was sorely tempted by the offer from incoming Real president Florentino Perez in May.

Wenger wanted reassurance from the Emirates board that there was unanimous support for his ideas of building a young squad and turning them into genuine challengers both domestically and in Europe, rather than simply trying to buy success.

Perez offered Wenger £6million a year in addition to the seemingly limitless transfer war chest that has subsequently landed Brazilian ace Kaka - unveiled yesterday - and Cristiano Ronaldo for a combined £136m.

Real president Florentino Perez (Pic:Getty)

But Wenger was convinced during a three-hour summit meeting with chief executive Ivan Gazidis that he should not end his 13-year stay in North London.

And Wenger explained one of the main reasons for his decision was that he simply does not agree with the Perez philosophy.

"What Real want to do is produce what I would call a spectacle of football, a spectacular team," said the Frenchman.

"But I believe that when it comes to creating a team and a squad there is another dimension that exists, and that is my way of thinking.

"I want to have success by building a team with a style, with a know-how, with a culture of play specific to the club and its fans and with young people.

"That is what I have chosen in my career and want to ensure I continue here at Arsenal.

"I am in a construction project with a young team, but my intention is to take that project to the ultimate end. For me, pleasure comes from watching those players showing the football I like to see played.

"The sums we are talking about with Real can appear shocking.

"But they are the fruit of a calculation carried out by the investors in the club.

"I believe it is necessary to disregard moral judgement and to simply ask whether the operation will be profitable. In my opinion, to recruit more than three players in a transfer window, as Real plan, is taking a technical risk.

"You are entering a zone of uncertainty and if that kicks back at you, it can hurt."

Arsenal appear to have fended off interest in Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie, both of whom have pledged their futures to the club, and already landed Ajax defender Thomas Vermaelen.

Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor, no longer popular with the fans after his listless season last term, is likely to depart, with Manchester City also keen on taking Kolo Toure.

Wenger appears to have missed out on one of his prime targets, Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo.

Former Gunner Gilberto Silva, Melo's central partner in Brazil's Confederations Cup triumph in South Africa, had urged his compatriot to join Arsenal.

But Melo has signed a contract extension at Fiorentina, with a release clause of more than £17m.

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