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We won't pay over odds for Cesc Fabregas, say Barcelona
Evening Standard 10 Aug 2009
Barcelona sporting director Txiki Begiristain admits the club want to bring Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas back to the Nou Camp but will not pay over the odds.
Barca have long been linked with their former youth player and Begiristain identified him as one of the few players capable of improving the team.
"It depends on how much we want to spend," he said. "If we spend a lot of money, it is possible [to bid for Fabregas].
"We do not know how much it will be yet. We have not asked Arsenal. If the amount is too high, we will not try."
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is confident defender Thomas Vermaelen will be fit to face Everton on Saturday despite the summer signing missing the last three pre-season games with a muscle problem.
Reader views (19)
Sell next year for 45mill. With that buy 2 top, top English players.....Cahill&Noble and Afellay from PSV. We have such a strong squad coming through with the likes of Djourou, Vermealen, Gibbs, Song, Ramsey, Nasri, Denilson, Diaby, Wilshere, Walcott, Bendtner. Not to mention our senior players like, Gallas, Clichy, Sagna, Arshavin, Rosicky, Van-persie, Eduardo. One man does not make a team, no matter how good they are and everyone has their price!!! I would like to see Cahill and Noble wearing the Arsenal shirt, they fit the mould of an Arsenal player!
- Newmy, Ipswich, 11/08/2009 22:12
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The outrageous arrogance of Spanish clubs beats my imagination. Arsenal will sell him if he wants to go and they pay what Arsenal want for him. It is all to do with Arsenal wanting to sell or else he will stay.
- Sorie Kamara 'Kamsoman', London, UK, 11/08/2009 15:01
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I hope that will not happan.
- Henry Maher, Newcastle Australia, 11/08/2009 09:03
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a) barcelona did not let him go...arsenal signed him to a professional contract before barcelona could because of spanish laws prohibiting professional contracts for plaers under 16 - aka Poaching.
b) breathtaking arrogance? hardly. if barcelona were to spend 70 million, do you think arsenal would refuse? unlikely. read the man's words "If we spend a lot of money, it is possible"
c) they may not need him immediately but they have a plan. start moving iniesta onto the left flank for the aging henry this year...make him permanent there later. fabregas then goes onto succeed xavi as chief playmaker after xavi is done(still another 4 years because like kaka, gerrard, pirlo, and the great midfielders he relies on his mind rather than just his physical attributes and talents) - before which he is xavi's partner in crime...right now with pique (22), messi (22), busquets (21), iniesta (25), krkic (18), muniesa, jeffren, fontas (all U20) coming through the youth ranks, fabregas would form the core that would be groomed for the future under this marvellous team, and would probably go onto become captain - a hollywood type childhood dreamer who left return as hero story? maybe.
d) it would not be a bad career move - why? diversity and experience of one league taken to another league allows players to grow...fabregas is talented technically, he has developed a strong game because of physical but not as technical english football, he goes to spain, he will become even better
- Saad Dara, Canada, 11/08/2009 05:32
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Apart from telling everyone the same thing every day, not sure what Wenger can add to the multitude of denials both he and Fabregas have made about Fabregas moving to Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Reading, Gillingham, Coventry et all. Same ol yaaaawn.
- Tony Freeman, tampa usa, 10/08/2009 17:58
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I think Arsenal's signature tune of "The Wonder Of You" is about to be replaced by a new catchy tune.......The Sack, The Sack, The Sack, The Sack, The Sack
The gooners are paying a lot of money for tickets and travel. The Club are paying nothing.
We are reaching the time when the loyal fans frustration will finally overflow.
- Terry Sullivan, Islington, 10/08/2009 17:36
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Does anyone have the power to find out what’s really going on in the club?
I just wish AW would come out with something like, “we wouldn’t even sell him for ₤50 million + Messi.”
However, the manager’s silence seems to indicate that he has a price in mind.
My big problem is that FAB’S transfer fee would not be used to reinvest in over-priced players, but it would be used to line the pockets of our beloved directors and to refinance their loans. Either way, the team is screwed…
- Alex, London, 10/08/2009 15:37
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even for big cash im not ready to see him check out!!
- Korir Paul, eldoret,kenya, 10/08/2009 15:29
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Superb player but do they need him right now? Iniesta & Xavi were superb last season, and as with the National side in recent years Cesc amazingly has not always been a starter due to the form of players like Xavi, Iniesta, Alonso etc. Think Cesc will continue to be on their radar, but not this summer. Why break up a treble winning midfield pairing that play so well together, think he will stay at Arsenal (for now), but Barca will come back to get him further down the road.
- Melly, Cartagena, Colombia, 10/08/2009 13:50
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Fabregas is sheer class and can still improve a lot, especially physically. If he moves to Barcelona I could see him staying there for most of his career and giving them extraodinary service and value in the long-term. Therefore I wouldn't accept any less than £50m.
- James, London, 10/08/2009 13:22
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Fafrecas said many times that he wants to stay and help Arsenal to win trophies. I believe he is sincere. Barcelona havent been in the market like Real and they want to show to their supporters that they can also go for big names with loads of money.They make noises.. I hope they shut up or pay 60 milion pounds, and be over and done....
- Doukani, herts, 10/08/2009 13:19
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LOOKING 4WHO?CECS OUR CAPTAIN, WHO IS LUKING?BARCA, OH NO SAME TEAM DAT LET HIM GO AS JUNIOR?THEY HAVE NEVER BEALIV ON HIM, NOW IS AND SIMPLE CECS HAS CONTRACT WITH ARSENAL, IF THEY WNT HIM 50MILION POUNDS OR GV US 4OMIL AND HENRY, IF NOT HE IS NOT AVAILABLE.4RM XOLANI
- Xolani Aka Jila Ngalo, EDINBURGH UK, 10/08/2009 13:10
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If Fabregas wants to go, and I think we all know he does, then the price will be largely irrelevant - we've heard plenty of Gooners talking wanting rid of Toure and Adebayor as soon as they said they wanted to leave, so presumably the same will go for Fab.
I think he'll go for around the same money as Alonso, about €30m.
- St, London, 10/08/2009 12:13
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Unless Barcelona are prepared to pay 60-70 million then they should put up or shut up,it must be gutting for them to know they had Cesc as a youth and let him go,Arsenal gave him his step up to the big time and I dont think he forgets that.I would personally take 45million plus Henry but that aint gonna happen.
- Jim Ex Pat,Islington N1, thailand, 10/08/2009 10:57
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If I was Fabregas I'd snap Barca's fingers off and put in a transfer request pronto. Let see the choice he has -to stay at a hopeless club that will be fighting for 4th place/a Champion's League slot at best, or move to the European champions? To play with Bendtner ... or Messi?? Tough decision eh!!!!!
- Nick, Battersea, 10/08/2009 10:01
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however much they value Xavi add £10m then you might get to Cesc value, this kid will supass any other Spainish midfielder, remember he is only 22 and captain of a club like arsenal
- Matthew Brown, ldn, uk, 10/08/2009 09:55
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Barca always do this.
They should either pay up the market value if they Really want him or shut up
- Adam, london, 10/08/2009 09:27
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"It depends on how much we want to spend,"
I think it also rather depends on whether Arsenal want to sell, doesn't it? Breathtaking arrogance.
- Frank, London, 10/08/2009 09:18
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Trust me,the asking price will be astromoical!!! Why? You have to factor in his obvious class,age,the fact that he has 4 years left on his current contract!!
- Uday Desai, Coventry UK, 10/08/2009 08:37
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