Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas has admitted that he would have remained at Arsenal for his "entire career" if Barcelona had not expressed an interest in him.

The Spain international left the Emirates in 2011 following a nine-year career with the Gunners but the 25-year-old has insisted that he would have been more than happy to stay at the club.

"It was a dream for me to play for Barcelona, but I was not bitter about Arsenal," Foot Mercato quotes Fabregas as saying.

"On the contrary, I lived in the most beautiful city in the world, I was in an incredible team with a great coach and the fans loved me.

"It was not a matter of life or death. If Barca had not come, I would have spent my entire career at Arsenal. That is certain."

Meanwhile, Fabregas is expected to feature for Spain in tonight's World Cup qualifier against France.