Cesc Fabregas to tell Arsène Wenger he wants to leave Arsenal and join Barcelona
Cesc Fabregas flew back from Spain on Tuesday and is set to tell Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger that he wants to return to Barcelona.
By John Ley
Published: 3:59PM BST 18 May 2010
Previously, Fabregas has insisted he is happy in north London but
Arsenal have gone five years without a trophy and, as a Barca fan – he went to his first game when he was nine months old - the lure to return has become too great.
It is understood that the Spaniard took a step closer to leaving the Emirates Stadium following reports, confirmed on the Barcelona website, that the La Liga champions want Fabregas. He is mulling over his future but has told friends he wants to leave.
If Arsenal relent, they would demand at least £30 million for a player who has a long-term contract at the Emirates.
Barcelona reported that Fabregas “made it clear last week that if he leaves the London club, it’ll be for Barca”.
Joan Laporta, the Barcelona president, said: “It’s remarkable that a player should commit himself in this way. If the club technical staff believe we need to make the extra effort and sign him, we’ll speak to Arsenal”.
Arsenal have refused to comment while Barcelona have followed protocol and have so far made no direct contact with Fabregas, who is still only 23.
It is not the first time Spain have courted a player who spent six years with Barcelona, from 1997 to 2003, scoring regularly for their youth teams.
Real Madrid have been consistently linked with the midfielder but even as recent as last season he insisted he was happy to remain, contented with working with Wenger and the style Arsenal play.
Fabregas is contracted to Arsenal until 2014 and losing him would be a massive blow to Wenger, who made Fabregas captain in 2008 and has a special relationship with him.
But the funds would enable Wenger to invest further in the club’s future attempts to win the Premier League for the first time in seven years.
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