Philippe Senderos has lifted the lid on snubbing former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to sign for Arsenal.

The former Switzland defender hung up the boots earlier this year.

He recalled: "I was 18 and Real Madrid and Manchester United had also looked for me.

"I went to Munich twice to speak with Bayern, [Ottmar] Hitzfeld wanted me, but I found a special feeling with Arsene Wenger.

"He and Gerard Houllier came to Geneva to convince me. Wenger talked to me about football and not about money, he had a plan for me.

"Then I went to see a game at Highbury, and I was bewitched. That's why I chose Arsenal.

"At first he [Wenger] was very close to me, giving me a lot of advice. He immediately made me feel like an important player, even though I was 18."