Morning:
6°c
Cesc Fabregas will tell Arsene Wenger he still wants to leave
Graham Hunter in Barcelona29 Jul 2010
Cesc Fabregas is expected to meet Arsene Wenger over the next 48 hours to underline his firm desire to sign for Barcelona this summer.
The Gunners captain has maintained a dignified silence since helping Spain to win the World Cup just over a fortnight ago but remains adamant that he wants a move.
The 23-year-old is reluctant to hand in a transfer request because of the respect he has for Wenger and is realistic enough to understand that he may still not achieve his goal if the manager refuses to talk to Barcelona.
But once Fabregas tells Wenger face to face for the second time that he wants an immediate move back to his former club — and not in 12 months' time — the Arsenal manager is going to be faced with a dilemma over whether to keep an unhappy player to prove a point or accept that he must do a deal with the Spaniards.
Wenger's hardline stance intensified this week with his description of the speculation about the midfielder's future in Spain as just “noise”.
However, Fabregas still wishes to follow his friend Gerard Pique, who returned from the Premier League with Manchester United to domestic and European success at Barcelona.
Fabregas is expected to tell Wenger that he followed his advice in June to concentrate on winning the World Cup and to leave everything in the Frenchman's hands.
But, significantly, Arsenal's refusal to negotiate with new Barca president Sandro Rosell has fallen well short of what the player believes he is owed from his manager.
The Spaniards, despite their £366million debt, remain capable of paying £40m — they have already had one bid of £30m turned down — if Fabregas convinces his manager to let him go.
It has been claimed that Fabregas already knows what he would earn at the Nou Camp and will also inherit the No4 shirt worn by manager Pep Guardiola when he played for the Catalans.
This weekend is likely to see the situation crystallised as Wenger prepares his team for the Emirates Cup and matches with AC Milan on Saturday and Celtic on Sunday, while squeezing in a meeting that could decide Fabregas's future.
Reader views (22)
Gurgar-Quote' I'm sure Fab would want us to get a decent price;' Aaah what an endearing thought. Let me say that I don't think he gives a hoot. Her wants away. He said so before joining up with his country for South Africa. Barcelona are true conmen here as they want him on the cheap. Arsenal should hold their nerve and I believe they will.
- Kevin, N London, 30/07/2010 12:34
Report abuse
To Chrispy the Clown.
You sound very bitter. Your memory of the Campbell situation is also very limited. I would suggest however that they are two very different situations given that your captain has not strung you along and lied as Campbell quite clearly did with Tottenham, hence the reason he is so disliked, and not just amongst Tottenham fans. I would suggest that your captain wants to leave to win things, especially in european competitions. Run along.
- football fan, England, 30/07/2010 11:09
Report abuse
Crispy - fabregas wants to leave to win a league title because he hasnt won one at you lot!
Infact the only thing he has won is the fa cup!
- North London, Berkshire, 30/07/2010 08:53
Report abuse
The real question is why did the management of top flight football teams ever allow contracts to become meaningless? Cesc has five years remaining on his contract. Nothing else needs to be said. The Gunners need to tell him they own his playing rights for 5 years and he will not be traded within that time period. If he does not want to play for Aresenal, let him sit home in Catalonia and watch his value decline year by year when he does not play.
- Charlie A., Houston, Texas, USA, 30/07/2010 05:27
Report abuse
John Smith, more to the point WHEN is Harry the Gooner next in court...twitch twitch...lol
- Sensible Opi ion, N5, 29/07/2010 21:53
Report abuse
Paul, I'm resigned to the fact that if Cesc states his clear intention of leave, Wenger will let him go - it's as simple as that; their policy will change, this is football.
- J Gurjar, London, 29/07/2010 21:44
Report abuse
I really think the gutter press has told us enough times Cesc loves Barca, trouble is they don't rate hime enough to stump up a fair fee, if he was there love child and must come home they would of used the money spent on David Villa and the YaYa money to put in a realistic offer truth is they think Arsenal will buckle and let him go cheap "Just say No"
- Buck, Sussex, 29/07/2010 17:50
Report abuse
Complete and utter rot.
"Has to be at least £45m, we're in a position where we're letting go of a player who is not past his peak..."
Did you somehow miss the statement from Arsenal when Barcelona made their offer? The offer was refused and Arsenal made it clear - there will be NO discussions; the player is not for sale. I can understand why muck-raking journalists supporting the opposition don't get this but I can't for the life of me fathom how Gooners can fail to understand it.
"Barca just need to wait...Arsene will realise that 25m is better than 30m plus a heavily-disrupted season as Cesc will surely go on strike."
Go on strike? Cesc Fabregas? Get real.
"Kind of makes all those Gooners who thought Cesc loved them as much as they love him, look rather silly. Same thing with Henry."
Oh yeah? Because of a piece by a "journalist" who of course hasn't spoken to the player or his agent and is merely speculating about what the player will say when he next speaks to his manager? Grow up...
Let's face it, the Standard hasn't been great for a while but now it's jumping on the anti-Arsenal bandwagon it's abandoned any pretence to be a serious newspaper.
Stick to fashion shows and champagne guys. You haven't got anything intelligent to say about footbal...
- Paul, London, 29/07/2010 17:13
Report abuse
Has to be at least £45m, we're in a position where we're letting go of a player who is not past his peak, who despite going through the ranks of the Barca youth, has become the player he is at Arsenal. I'm sure Fab would want us to get a decent price; need to look to the future now.
- J Gurjar, London, 29/07/2010 15:10
Report abuse
Barca just need to wait...Arsene will realise that 25m is better than 30m plus a heavily-disrupted season as Cesc will surely go on strike. Kind of makes all those Gooners who thought Cesc loved them as much as they love him, look rather silly. Same thing with Henry.
- ST, London, 29/07/2010 14:55
Report abuse
John Smith Bitter. That sounds about right.
- gaz, london, 29/07/2010 14:54
Report abuse
@ John Smith.....Unfortunately completely different circumstances my Spud friend. 'Your' captain didn't want to sign a new contract as he wanted to win things....you know...like a league title. Our captain, who has five years on his contract wants to go home. We Arsenal fans understand that and if Barcelona match our valuation, he can go and we'll wish him well and without the bitterness that you obviously carry for a player that won more medals after he left your excuse for a football club.
Jog on, muppet!
- Chrispy, London, 29/07/2010 14:47
Report abuse
err John Smith.. how is the campbell situation the same? Sol let his contract run out, had his pick of clubs and HE choose us. We never unsettled Campbell, never to tried dirty tricks to get him, in fact when he did sign for us it was a bolt out of the blue!! Get over it mate.
- Steve, London, 29/07/2010 14:47
Report abuse
would everybody stop moaning about arsenal, they are not the ones holding up the deal, Barcelona are. Pony up the money and this will all be sorted, simples
- George, London, 29/07/2010 14:46
Report abuse
To John Smith.What was disgraceful and hypocritical about Arsenal concerning Sol Campbell?
Until Cesc Fabregas says publicly he wishes to leave Arsenal I will not believe it and therefore its all speculation.
Why is the press so anti Arsenal making up stories which are mostly lies?
a
- Martin, Penzance Cornwall, 29/07/2010 14:41
Report abuse
This is exactly the kind of "noise" that Mr Wenger was referring to. Pure speculation. Very poor "journalism".
- bopalula, Douglas, Isle of Man, 29/07/2010 14:28
Report abuse
No quotes . . . absolute rubbish!!!!!
- JD, N. Ireland, 29/07/2010 14:14
Report abuse
Oh the irony of Arsenal fans not liking a captain wanting to leave for a successful club after their disgraceful and hypocritical behaviour over Sol Campbell
Karma has well and truly come home to roost
They better sell him quick before his unhappiness causes them to have a disastrous start, as happened with Everton/Lescott and Spurs/Berbatov
- John Smith, London, 29/07/2010 14:01
Report abuse
Yawn, sell him and move on
- gaz, london, 29/07/2010 13:16
Report abuse
Good for him. The only problem being that he has a five year contract with us and he can't go anywhere until Barcelona match our asking price.
If he really cared about this club, the manager, the fans and his teammates the way he claims he does then he would be intent on Arsenal receiving a fair price for him. The sort of sum that would allow Arsenal to replace him and go on to achieve success. Currently Barca aren't offering enough money so it's a non-starter.
If Cesc isn't careful he could end up going down the route of Adebayor. Leaving us for another club is just fine, but not if it's done in a manner that disrupts the team, annoys the fans and is detrimental to the club.
I hope Wenger can make it clear to him that it is not just about what he (Cesc) wants. Wenger and the management at Arsenal need to think of what's best for the club, for the team and the fans and can't just bow to the every whim of a single player.
I'm sure Wenger would let him leave. But not right now, two weeks before the start of the season; and not for the paltry amount that Barcelona are offering.
- Dan, Essex, 29/07/2010 13:05
Report abuse
If Fabregas wants to leave so be it,but Barcelona still have to come up with a realistic offer maybe £50 million.In your story you say Fabregas is "expected"to tell Wenger face to face he wants to leave,just wondered where you heard that seeing that you reporting from Barcelona and not London,where I am presuming Wenger and Fabregas are at the moment.
- jim ex pat,islington N1, thailand, 29/07/2010 13:00
Report abuse
If Fab truly wants to go then so be it. However, Barca should be forced to stump up the £50 million plus that a player of Fab's age & quality is surely worth in todays inflated market. With the funds raised we could easily purchase the decent keeper, additional centre back & defensive midfield player we clearly need. With Nasri fully fit after last season's broken leg, to replace Fab. As well as Arshavin, Abu Diaby, Rosicky & the emerging Wilshere & Emmanauel-Thomas coming through there is no shortage of decent attacking midfield players at Arsenal. Although Fab is a quality player he is no Henry or Vieira & has benefitted hugely from Wenger's policy of playing through him in the final third of the pitch. Hleb, Flamini, Henry & Vieira have left in recent years & have failed to perform as well as they did under Wenger.
- Rob Gooner, North London, 29/07/2010 12:46
Report abuse
