When Robert Pires was growing up in France, there was only team that he was allowed to support: Real Madrid.
The World Cup winner will run out against his childhood team on Saturday for Arsenal Legends, and he revealed why our opponents are so close to his heart.
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"I've been a Madrid fan for a long, long time because my mum is Spanish and all of my family members follow Real Madrid," Pires told Arsenal Player.
"Of course, my first idol was my Dad, but after that it was Michel, who was for me one of the best midfielders in the world.
"At this moment I said 'Wow, this guy is very good and I want to be like him.' I wanted to be a professional because Michel is very good and a very good example, so he used to play for Madrid and that's why I've followed them for a long, long time.
"He was elegant on the field with very good technique, vision and ability with the ball. I said 'Wow, I love this guy because he plays simple' and I don't know why, but the feeling with him is that he was very good and I said to my Mum, ‘Look, I want to be like Michel in a few years.’"
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