Club Change Quotes

When my kids were young, we could move and experience different countries and, in my case, different clubs and different football, but there is a moment when they need some stability.

I was desperate to leave Hamburg. The club was awesome, don't get me wrong, but I had a personal issue with one of the board members. He was desperate to get me out. The first club came calling, and it was Man City.

I don't regret leaving Arsenal.

It's tough, as Chelsea's a very special place for me, and I've always had a great relationship with the fans, but it became very obvious that I was not in the manager's plans. I have achieved great things there, but I just needed to play football, and that's why I got the move to Fenerbahce.

I was not happy when we lost Morgan Schneiderlin, Nat Clyne and other players of that quality at Southampton.

When a team is relegated, a new leader can help turn the page at a club.

I did not transfer from United to City for the controversy.

I never hid my move to Real Madrid was almost done... my fate changed, and I arrived at Barcelona instead.

I started at Benfica: not as big but one of the biggest clubs in Portugal. I've played for Real Madrid. Then I moved to Manchester United, from a giant to another giant.

Montreal was a very active jazz center until club owners started putting in strippers instead of music. Before long, there was nothing to hear.

When I was at Villa and I was captain there and I had the opportunity to go to City, it played on my mind I wouldn't be as pivotal. So initially I didn't want to go, but a lot of things happened behind the scenes and I realised I had to go.

A move away from Arsenal did not fall through because I had no offers to move.

It's normal in a top club that people change.

Leaving Manchester United? That was not complicated.

When I was sold from Real Madrid to Inter, I would have preferred to have remained in Spain.

One day I won't play for Barcelona. I'll go and play somewhere else, and I'm sure I'll do so as a central midfielder. That's what I'll try to do because it's the position I like.

I left Arsenal because I wanted to develop and learn as a player and get to experience a new club.

It's true that football is a job, and one works to earn money, but when there are so many feelings involved, it's hard to change clubs just to earn a bit more cash. I respect every player and their decisions, but that's my feeling.

I was out on loan at Barnsley when United accepted an offer for me from Leicester and that was it really. I just had to concentrate on my new club.

My departure from Arsenal was purely for sporting reasons.

I enjoyed every moment with Tottenham. But in one moment, you feel you need to take a step forward, to go to a higher level.

I've played for a great club in Corinthians and been successful. I moved to Shakhtar and that turned into a great move too.

I think that with West Ham, it was more complicated for me. It happened naturally; there was urgency to leave West Ham.

Milan, I was surrounded by great players; it wasn't the same at City.

When you leave a big club and go on loan to a small club in Holland it is not easy. But I am a footballer and I have to be professional about my job.