Frank Lampard has told Sky Sports that Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan tried to sign him when he was playing for Chelsea.
Lampard won every major honour during 13 seasons at Stamford Bridge and left as the club's all-time record goal scorer.
And he said he did not regret staying at Chelsea instead of moving to Spain or Italy.
"There were times earlier in my career when they did, but I do not look back and regret not going, but it was certainly of interest," Lampard said.
"Back in the day, the big Spanish clubs were involved -- Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan under Jose [Mourinho]. It was never: 'I'm ready to sign now,' but there were rumours and some talks behind the scenes.
"But I am very happy I did not take them up on any of them as when I look back on my career, particularly the Chelsea part of it, I would have missed so much.
"I am very happy to have come away with that in my pocket and say that I have a real allegiance and feeling for one club in particular and did a lot there.
"You can't buy that and once you have that, you can never lose it and it stays with you and Chelsea is the club that always feels very close to me for now."
Lampard retired in February but was offered the chance to reverse that decision and play for Swansea by Paul Clement, who coached him during Carlo Ancelotti's time at Chelsea.
But the former midfielder, who spent time on loan with the Welsh side from West Ham in 1995-96, decided against extending his career.
"Clem at Swansea asked me to go and be involved there," Lampard added. "And I have so much respect for him that that made me really think: 'Could I get involved and maybe help there?'
"I had a link there, which was a nice thing, Clem sold it brilliantly to me and it was one of those. But again, having played at the top level and been fortunate to have played with Chelsea for so long, and Man City at the end, you are talking about top clubs that were fighting at the top.
"And no disrespect, but it was not the right battle at that point in my career as I would have wanted to have gone there and given my all and tried to help.
"This was in January, so I would have had to get fit again, have a mini preseason and at 38 years of age slugging it out at the bottom of the Premier League in reality. I wish Clem very well, but it just was not the right option for me."