SPANISH MIDFIELDER CESC Fabregas has thanked his former manager Arsene Wenger for helping him realise his dream of playing for Barcelona.

In an interview with El Pais, he said that Wenger convinced Arsenal to lower their valuation of the player in order to facilitate Fabregas’ exit from the club.

The 24-year-old revealed:

“Of course, I would also not be a Barcelona player without him, because he helped me with the owners at Arsenal. They would not sell under any circumstances and he convinced them to do so, and to lower the asking price.”

The Spaniard also indicated that the ongoing transfer saga had been even more protracted than people imagined, saying that he has been courted by Barcelona since he was 18.

Fabregas also acknowledged the enormous debt he owed Wenger, on account of the role the Arsenal manager played in his development as a player. He said:

“Had it not been for Wenger, I would not now be a Barcelona player. I would not have debuted for Arsenal at 16, played in the Champions League final at 18 and been team captain at 20, without him, I don’t know where I would be.”

The player, who made over 200 appearances for Arsenal, has had a successful start to his Barcelona career, already scoring in games against Porto and Villareal.

Meanwhile, the official UEFA website reports that Wenger’s appeal against a two-match Champions League ban has been rejected.

Arsenal have also been fined €10,000 for improper conduct by their officials in last month’s home Champions League qualifier against Udinese.

For more information, read El Pais>

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