Arsene Wenger attacks Spanish clubs over transfer claims

James Olley
21 Aug 2009

Arsene Wenger has emphatically denied a deal is in place to sell Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona and accused Spanish clubs of destabilising other teams in their presidential elections.

The Gunners captain has been persistently linked with a move back to the club he left as a 16-year-old, including reports this week suggesting a £30million transfer has been agreed for next summer.

Barca president Joan Laporta stands down at the end of this season as rules dictate he cannot serve a third consecutive term, with Sandro Rosell among the forerunners to replace him.

Rosell quit as Laporta's vice-president four years ago and has since been hugely critical of the club's hierarchy and both are attempting to claim credit for a potential deal for Fabregas.

But Wenger, speaking ahead of tomorrow's clash against Portsmouth at Emirates Stadium, said: "I believe that apart from giving some articles to the newspapers all the rest is rubbish. It doesn't help football and can sometimes be destabilising.

"The way Spanish clubs are run is more political than sport orientated. It doesn't help other clubs when somebody who has, for example, no chance to be elected next year as president, can announce any name. What can you do against him? Nothing. "The only thing I can say is that the day I agree to sell a player one year in advance, I will not be in this job any more."

Nicklas Bendtner's future at the club has been shrouded in doubt this week after his father, Thomas, denied reports a new deal had been agreed.

It is thought the club have a offered a new long-term deal worth in the region of £50,000-a-week and Wenger said: "Nicklas Bendtner is in his final year of his contract and at the moment we are in discussion with him."

Wenger did not rule out the possibility of bringing in another player before the transfer window closes and the club sent a scout to watch Steven Taylor in Newcastle's 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.

However, the manager believes his team's stunning start to the season - which has taken in a 6-1 win at Everton and a 2-0 victory at Celtic - has left him confident his squad have the quality to compete at home and abroad.

"We have the potential," he said. "Don't forget the players we have out - we have quite a big squad. We have Tomas Rosicky and Samir Nasri - there are plenty of offensive players who are still not there.

"Defensively, number-wise, maybe we could still do with one."

Eduardo (groin) is available but Theo Walcott (back) is ruled out and will not return until the trip to Manchester United a week on Saturday at the earliest.