Hleb: I regret leaving Arsenal

Winger Alexander Hleb has admitted that he regrets leaving Arsenal to join Catalan club Barcelona, and that if he could reverse his decision he would have.

Despite winning the Champions League with the Spanish club, Hleb wasn't a regular member of the team, and having not played often, suffered a drop in form and confidence.

The Belarus international has now returned to England, signing for Birmingham City.

Hleb said: "Not a lot of players say no to Barcelona. But if I'd known what was going to happen I would have said no.

"It was my fault I left Arsenal. Yes, I won the Champions League but I didn't play a lot and I lost my form and I lost a bit of my confidence.

"It is nice to be back in England. Yes, I have heard from someone at Arsenal. Cesc. What we said is between friends.

"I don't know what my emotions will be like when I play Arsenal. I think about it a lot.

"Why did I come to Birmingham? I know they are a good team. I just want to come back to the Premier League.

"I want to try and get my form and play the way I was at Arsenal. I feel I have something to prove. I want to play like before."

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