Cesc Fabregas To Quit Arsenal For Barcelona

[getborn]

Cesc Fabregas has told Arsene Wenger in a face-to-face meeting today that he wants to quit Arsenal and rejoin Barcelona, Goal.com UK can confirm.

In a showdown described only as "emotional", the midfielder delivered the bombshell to his mentor and the man to whom he feels he owes his career that, following some agonising soul-searching, he wants to leave the club that he joined as a 16-year-old.

It is understood that the talks between Wenger and Fabregas, who flew into the UK today from Spain for treatment on his injured knee, took place in London.

The Arsenal manager is believed to have taken the decision calmly and asked him to stay at Emirates Stadium for one more season, but the 23-year-old has set his heart on returning to his boyhood club this summer.

Fabregas, who had already said that he wanted his future decided before the World Cup, has spent the last few days thinking long and hard about whether his ambitions could be fulfilled in north London.

He fears that he will miss out on major honours if he does not commit the prime years of his career to a Barcelona side that is in the middle of a golden era.

"... the needs and wants of Cesc Fabregas come first and both are pulling stronger than ever in the direction of Camp Nou. All Arsene Wenger has to do now is let go."

The shattering news for Arsenal supporters follows a claim by Barcelona’s vice-president hat Fabregas had expressed the same view to them.

Rafael Yuste told the Catalonian radio station Ona FM that he remained confident that deals for Valencia's David Villa and Fabregas were both on: “Negotiations are progressing well, especially in the case of Villa.

"The situation with Cesc is different because even if you have the will of the player it is very important to talk to his club and, if you can, find an agreement. But what makes it easier is that both players want to come to Barca.”

Barcelona are now expected to table a £30 million bid for the player who Arsenal signed for nothing from Camp Nou in 2003.

However, the Londoners are likely to demand more than £40m for a player who is regarded at the club as irreplaceable and one of the finest midfielders in the world.

Fabregas, who played alongside Lionel Messi in the Barcelona youth teams before moving to Arsenal, had previously said he “would like to go to Barcelona”, but had maintained that no move was imminent.

“I am happy at Arsenal and I am not in a rush to leave. Before I go to the World Cup I want my future sorted out because it benefits nobody if I go into the tournament with something else on my mind.”

Reacting to Fabregas's initial comment about wanting to return, Barcelona's president Joan Laporta said: “It is remarkable that the player has said that. If the technical secretary [Txiki Begiristain] believes we must make an effort, we will do and will talk to Arsenal.”

[Le King]

seeya cesc
and seeya arsenal

[Litmanen]

seeya cesc
and seeya arsenal

They're getting Yaya toure for him aren't they? I actually think they'll be stronger because they don't have to give up another defensive midfielder to play him. They're also looking a felipe melo. Makes me wonder if hes' trying to harden his team a bit more, should make for an interesting season next year, if he can land some hard nuts.

[getborn]

have read ibra could be used as a makeweight for either cesc or villa.

barca would be better off without the ibra show.

[# 9]

have read ibra could be used as a makeweight for either cesc or villa.

barca would be better off without the ibra show.

straight swap ...cesc for ibra & yaya

[Token]

have read ibra could be used as a makeweight for either cesc or villa.

barca would be better off without the ibra show.

straight swap ...cesc for ibra & yaya

Provided Barca get Villa I reckon this deal would suit both teams.

[Chelsea4thewin]

i reckon ibra will join morinho at real madrid

[Giallorossi]

cesc has been great for the club and a great captain but unfortunately he wants to return to his childhood club i hope that wenger gets yaya toure comes part of the deal and with the money we buy joe hart and mikel arterta and a world class defender or someone like jagielka

[Litmanen]

With Fab in the middle with Xavi, i guess that means they can play Iniesta upfront on the left now.

Henry is off to the US right? Just wondering if Wenger might ask for him back is all...

[Steelinho]

I guess Cesc wants to win some silverware...

[Chade]

With Fab in the middle with Xavi, i guess that means they can play Iniesta upfront on the left now.

Henry is off to the US right? Just wondering if Wenger might ask for him back is all...

I think too, we saw that just Xavi isn't enough to break down teams like Inter, especially if he's having an off night - with Iniesta, they're able to do it. Fabregas gives them that depth. And he's a shitload better (and less of a wanker) than that tool Busquets.

[El Capitano]

hahahahahahahahahaha.

Another 2 horse race next season.

[Le King]

I guess Cesc wants to win some silverware...

hang on lemme cast my line out too...

[Chelsea4thewin]

barca got too much money

[Litmanen]

hahahahahahahahahaha.

Another 2 horse race next season.

It's pretty funny. If Man Citymade 4th it would have been interesting. Now it's Manure and Chelsea all over again.

The EPL is starting to feel like La Liga....

[Loppermann]

stopped reading as soon as I got to "goal.com"

[Steelinho]

I guess Cesc wants to win some silverware...

hang on lemme cast my line out too...

You should. It's fun.

[Hinderz]

Cesc has been great and it would be sad to see him go, but if he wants to go this might be exactly what the arsenal squad needs.

Wenger wont sign Ibra, he wont be willing to pay his wages

Yaya Toure and 30+ million would about right or Yaya Toure, Bojan and 20+million

Sign Yoan Gourcuff to replace cesc for around 20 million, bring in Joe Cole on free.

Then that leaves Arsene's original "warchest" of 35 million to sign Joe Hart or Neuer or Lloris, Mertesaker and Gary Cahill

Since Rosicky is rumoured to be on his way out, plus the combined fees we'd receive for cutting the dead wood... then go and sign Eden Hazard... oh a fan can dream

[Chade]

stopped reading as soon as I got to "goal.com"

Guardian has the story up too.

[Translator]

hahahahahahahahahaha.

Another 2 horse race next season.

It's pretty funny. If Man Citymade 4th it would have been interesting. Now it's Manure and Chelsea all over again.

The EPL is starting to feel like La Liga....

Barca has no competition in Spain

[# 9]

Cesc has been great and it would be sad to see him go, but if he wants to go this might be exactly what the arsenal squad needs.

Wenger wont sign Ibra, he wont be willing to pay his wages

Yaya Toure and 30+ million would about right or Yaya Toure, Bojan and 20+million

Sign Yoan Gourcuff to replace cesc for around 20 million, bring in Joe Cole on free.

Then that leaves Arsene's original "warchest" of 35 million to sign Joe Hart or Neuer or Lloris, Mertesaker and Gary Cahill

Since Rosicky is rumoured to be on his way out, plus the combined fees we'd receive for cutting the dead wood... then go and sign Eden Hazard... oh a fan can dream

lovin it

[simoo3]

everyone besides arsenal supporters seem to think losing cesc will kill arsenal.
YES it will be a huge blow but with the money and say a play we recieve i think we can do more beneficial things.
cesc was a very talented player by all means is just about irreplaceable but having 2-3-4 more squad players who have great talent instead of the 1 superstar is more worthwhile if you ask me.
i dont believe it until it happens anyway but i do think it can be a positive thing IF wenger uses the money to actually buy some players!

[El Capitano]

If Arsenal cant afford Ibra's wages, what makes you think they can afford Joe Cole's?

[Red-4-Life]

thats gonna hurt Arsenal...big loss losing their captain!

[Tony Adams]

dont know how true this is as it was on goal.com, but as a gooner its more upsetting then worrying! as gooners we have seen cesc develop into one of the greatest midfielders in the world, and given his age he could well claim the greatest one day! he is a fans favourite so would be sad to see him go, but as was the case with united with ronaldo i think it may be more beneficial to get the money and to kill of the constant disruption to the squad.

there are plenty of players we can get to substitute him the key issue is if he leaves then we have to strengthen the other areas, in particular dfence and our keeper


Verms for captain

[Hawkesy]

from gooner to goner

[Loppermann]

Cesc has been great and it would be sad to see him go, but if he wants to go this might be exactly what the arsenal squad needs.

Wenger wont sign Ibra, he wont be willing to pay his wages

Yaya Toure and 30+ million would about right or Yaya Toure, Bojan and 20+million

Sign Yoan Gourcuff to replace cesc for around 20 million, bring in Joe Cole on free.

Then that leaves Arsene's original "warchest" of 35 million to sign Joe Hart or Neuer or Lloris, Mertesaker and Gary Cahill

Since Rosicky is rumoured to be on his way out, plus the combined fees we'd receive for cutting the dead wood... then go and sign Eden Hazard... oh a fan can dream

Axel Witsel > Eden Hazard
Belgium sure have alot of talented youngsters
they'll be a force the next two world cups if they keep their shit together

[barbarez01]

ouch

[Le King]

yeh i can really imagine ibra getting excited about the prospect of playin with bentner

[Chaos]

yeh i can really imagine ibra getting excited about the prospect of playin with bentner

Coming from somebody who's team has Berbatov