Cesc Fabregas has claimed that he did everything possible to convince Arsenal to sign Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

During a five-year stint with the Merseyside giants, Alonso scored 18 goals from 210 appearances in all competitions, as well as helping the club win the Champions League in 2005.

However, before Alonso eventually linked up with Real Madrid in 2009, Fabregas has revealed that his Spanish compatriot had pushed for a switch to Arsenal.

Speaking to the Arsecast podcast, Fabregas said: "I was with Xabi on the phone the whole summer. He was dying to come. He was literally begging everyone to go to Arsenal, he really wanted to come, and to be honest, I did my best. I spoke to who I had to speak to. I gave my opinion, I thought that he was a fantastic addition for us at that time.

"And yeah I have to say that a couple of times like that I was frustrated by the lack of push, the final push – you know what I mean? That it's so close, the player is dying to come, it's so easy to make this deal.

"And yeah, Xabi Alonso was one of them. I mean I was living it day-to-day because he was texting me all the time. I remember the whole holiday I was talking to him, he was texting me: 'What's happening?' And it was a shame, because I think he would have been a great, great, great addition to that team."

Fabregas spent two more years at Arsenal before signing for Barcelona in 2011.