CATALAN GIANTS BARCELONA appear to have cooled their interest in re-signing Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas – for the moment at least.
Speaking to journalists ahead of next week’s Champions League tie against the Gunners, Barcelona Director of Football Raul Sanllehi declared that “right now, everything is dead regarding a transfer.”
Arsenal’s 23-year-old captain was the subject of transfer speculation throughout last summer despite the fact that he still has three full seasons to go before his contract expires in 2014.
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In a statement reaffirming his commitment to Arsenal in August, Fabregas highlighted the attraction of a move to the Spanish champions.
I cannot deny that joining a club like Barcelona was not an attractive move for me. This was the club where I learnt my football, it is my home town where my friends and family are and a club where I have always dreamed of playing.
There are not many players in this world who would not want to play for Barcelona.
The Spaniard’s pledge concluded with assurances that “I am an Arsenal player and as soon as I step out on to the pitch, that is the only club I will be thinking about”.
Barcelona have relaxed their pursuit out of concern that the recent transfer madness has given Arsenal unreasonable expectations about the fee which they can command for their star midfielder. Sanllehi commented in particular on the £50m which Chelsea spent last week to bring former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres to Stamford Bridge.
I was shocked. I felt the amount was very high. I know Barcelona would not do that signing. We would not even consider it.
Barcelona have stated in the past that they would be unwilling to break the €50m (£42m) mark to bring Fabregas back to his boyhood club.
There is better news for fans of the Catalan giants however, as it was announced last night that manager Pep Guardiola will commit to a contract extension in the coming days.
The 40-year-old has agreed a single-year extension in principle and will soon put pen to paper on a deal which will keep him at the Nou Camp until the end of the 2011/2012 season.
Cescy Football: Barca drop Fabregas chase, but for how long?
CATALAN GIANTS BARCELONA appear to have cooled their interest in re-signing Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas – for the moment at least.
Speaking to journalists ahead of next week’s Champions League tie against the Gunners, Barcelona Director of Football Raul Sanllehi declared that “right now, everything is dead regarding a transfer.”
Arsenal’s 23-year-old captain was the subject of transfer speculation throughout last summer despite the fact that he still has three full seasons to go before his contract expires in 2014.
In a statement reaffirming his commitment to Arsenal in August, Fabregas highlighted the attraction of a move to the Spanish champions.
The Spaniard’s pledge concluded with assurances that “I am an Arsenal player and as soon as I step out on to the pitch, that is the only club I will be thinking about”.
Barcelona have relaxed their pursuit out of concern that the recent transfer madness has given Arsenal unreasonable expectations about the fee which they can command for their star midfielder. Sanllehi commented in particular on the £50m which Chelsea spent last week to bring former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres to Stamford Bridge.
Barcelona have stated in the past that they would be unwilling to break the €50m (£42m) mark to bring Fabregas back to his boyhood club.
There is better news for fans of the Catalan giants however, as it was announced last night that manager Pep Guardiola will commit to a contract extension in the coming days.
The 40-year-old has agreed a single-year extension in principle and will soon put pen to paper on a deal which will keep him at the Nou Camp until the end of the 2011/2012 season.
Read Jeremy Wilson’s piece in today’s Daily Telegraph here >
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Arsenal Barcelona Cesc Fabregas Champions League Fernando Torres Pep Guardiola Raul Sanllehi Sandro Rosell Staying Put? Transfer