Alex Song: Arsenal rejected chance to re-sign me in summer

Barcelona midfielder Alex Song has revealed that he wanted to return to Arsenal earlier in the summer, before joining West Ham United on a season-long loan.

The 27-year-old left the Emirates and joined the Catalan club in 2012. However, he failed to create his mark in Spain as the Cameroon international was informed by the La Liga giants' manager Luis Enrique that his services were no longer required at Nou Camp earlier in the summer.

Song was keen on rejoining his former club. However, his hopes were dashed when Arsene Wenger rejected a chance to sign him in the summer transfer window. The Frenchman also did not re-sign Song's former teammate Cesc Fabregas, who joined Chelsea earlier in July.

"I would have liked to go back [to Arsenal] but they did not want to," Song said, as quoted in L'Equipe.

"That's life. Cesc Fabregas also wanted to return to Arsenal but they did not want to exercise their option. It is surprising when you see what he is doing at Chelsea. He is stronger than before."

"I could play in the Champions League in Italy, Napoli, Roma, or in Turkey. I could have played for Marseille but my priority was to return to England, for me and the family. I discovered a club that I did not know but it's working well."

"I had the opportunity to go to Barca and I could not refuse. It's said that the train only passes through once."

"I arrived in the best team in the world but I didn't think I would play as little as I did. I told myself that, in 50 matches, if I played 20, 25 games, it would have been okay. It did not happen as I wanted but I learned a lot. I'm a more mature player," he concluded.

Song's contract at Barcelona will expire at the end of the season and he will be available on a free transfer during the next summer transfer window.