If you compiled a list of players Arsene Wenger came close to signing during his Arsenal career, you’d get the greatest XI of all time.Gerard Pique and Raphael Varane in defence. Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante in midfield. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Gareth Bale, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Luis Suarez in attack.We’re not kidding about this, either. Wenger has openly admitted his interest in bringing these players to north London but missed out for one reason or another."My biggest regret, I was so close to signing Cristiano Ronaldo, and not only did I not get him he signed for Manchester United, so that of course still hurts today,” Wenger said in 2014, per Sky Sports.On Messi: “I think in the end he was not so keen to move. It was not completely down to a flat in the end, it was down to the fact that Messi was comfortable at Barcelona."Wenger spoke this week about that infamous move for Suarez in 2013. After hearing about an apparent clause in the Uruguayan’s Liverpool deal, Arsenal made a £40,000,001 bid - only to be mocked by former Reds chief John Henry.

“We had an agreement with the player,” Wenger said, per the Mirror. “You can ask him.

“I'm convinced he wanted to join us and then they sold him. They kept him one more year, improved his contract and promised to sell him the year later to a club abroad."

Suarez wasn't the only Liverpool man Wenger wanted

It turns out Suarez wasn’t the first Liverpool player who Wenger wanted to sign.

In an interview with the Liverpool Echo, Xabi Alonso revealed that Arsenal made a bid for him - but that it didn’t satisfy the Reds’ demands.

“I was really close to Juventus and I was close to Arsenal,” Alonso said, per Goal.

“But, it was just £3 million. Liverpool were asking £18m and both offered £15m – so that’s why it didn’t happen."

So Wenger was unwilling to add another £3m for a World Cup and two-time Champions League winner? Ridiculous.

Would Arsenal have won a Premier League title if they signed Xabi Alonso? Let us know in the comments section below!