I haven't seen Cesc in any of their marketing ads so far. Perhaps I've been selective but has he been in any Gunners ad this summer?
Fabregas to Barcelona!
- Thread starter Bryan_Munich
- Start date
Regardless of English teams only caring about tne sterling equivilant, fact is, if Arsenal wanted to enter the european market to find a replacement for Fabregas, that fee wouldn't even be enough to land a relatively unproven youngster like Neymar.
My point is, Arsenal should stick to their guns and make Barca pay a genuinely big fee because lets face it, if it wasn't for the exchange rate might make that bid look respectable but in real terms for Barca, they've bid a relatively modest fee.
*even though the exchange rate. Can't edit the previous post for some reason.
that would be wank-tastic Moday if the lost two players on a same day!
Probably bullshit but:
Real enter Fabregas chase¦ Madrid reportedly value midfielder higher than Barca
Sky Sports News understands that Real Madrid could lodge a rival bid for Arsenal captain and long-term Barcelona target Cesc Fabregas.
The Spanish midfielder has been linked with a return to his homeland for some time, having progressed through the youth ranks at Barca before joining the Gunners at the start of his senior career.
A move back to Camp Nou had appeared the most likely scenario if Arsenal did decide to let the 24-year-old leave, but the two clubs have never been able to agree on a fee.
Reports surfaced last week that Barcelona had been in contact, but club president Sandro Rosell stated that he would not pay over the odds for Fabregas and actually valued the player as cheaper than 12 months ago.
Spain-based journalist Graham Hunter has now told Sky Sports News that Real Madrid have made an approach to Arsenal regarding Fabregas.
It is understood that Real value the player at €50million (£45m), which is far closer to Arsenal's asking price than Barcelona have reached.
Considering Fabregas' close links to Barca and the fact the two Spanish clubs are such fierce adversaries, it is unclear whether Real would be successful in luring the midfielder to the Santiago Bernabeu.
But he is a favourite of the board at Real and head coach Jose Mourinho, who wields substantial power over transfers, is also an admirer of Fabregas' qualities.
Madrid relied heavily on Xabi Alonso to influence matches in the centre of the field last season and view Fabregas as somebody who could make a big difference.
Real enter Fabregas chase¦ Madrid reportedly value midfielder higher than Barca
Sky Sports News understands that Real Madrid could lodge a rival bid for Arsenal captain and long-term Barcelona target Cesc Fabregas.
The Spanish midfielder has been linked with a return to his homeland for some time, having progressed through the youth ranks at Barca before joining the Gunners at the start of his senior career.
A move back to Camp Nou had appeared the most likely scenario if Arsenal did decide to let the 24-year-old leave, but the two clubs have never been able to agree on a fee.
Reports surfaced last week that Barcelona had been in contact, but club president Sandro Rosell stated that he would not pay over the odds for Fabregas and actually valued the player as cheaper than 12 months ago.
Spain-based journalist Graham Hunter has now told Sky Sports News that Real Madrid have made an approach to Arsenal regarding Fabregas.
It is understood that Real value the player at €50million (£45m), which is far closer to Arsenal's asking price than Barcelona have reached.
Considering Fabregas' close links to Barca and the fact the two Spanish clubs are such fierce adversaries, it is unclear whether Real would be successful in luring the midfielder to the Santiago Bernabeu.
But he is a favourite of the board at Real and head coach Jose Mourinho, who wields substantial power over transfers, is also an admirer of Fabregas' qualities.
Madrid relied heavily on Xabi Alonso to influence matches in the centre of the field last season and view Fabregas as somebody who could make a big difference.
Sell to Madrid. Madrid win the title next season and everyone's laughing.
it's known that Madrid want Fabregas and if he showed any indication that he wanted them then it's assumed they're willing to pay more than Barcelona - who don't have as much urgency about getting him. Maybe they'd try and include Benzema in the bid.
Let me not say anything.
Good one Mourinho!
He will not go to Real Madrid anyway. What makes Barcelona's position so strong in this saga is that there is virtually no chance of him going anywhere else, so they think they can get him beyond his market value. Eventually they will bully Arsenal into selling him.
Good player linked to Real Madrid shocker.
'Cesc Fabregas has today taken a further step in his plan to play for FC Barcelona by failing to train with Arsenal in the first session scheduled for Arsene Wenger to return to work the London side.
After the conversation this morning was spent with his coach, Cesc has chosen to work in the gym apart from their peers as part of a routine that will keep repeating in the coming days, even if he eventually decided to travel to the Asian tour Arsenal something that is yet to confirm.
Besides working in the gym in the sports city of Arsenal, Fabregas will continue with his set-up for next season working out on your own with a trainer for about three hours.
Meanwhile, Barcelona will only move to the next few days, knowing that the offer of 35 million is set in stone and only wear every day could play in their favour. Meanwhile, as part of its strategy in the negotiation, the English club has included Cesc's image in promotional material for Arsenal's Asian tour.'
Source: AS (Spain)
After the conversation this morning was spent with his coach, Cesc has chosen to work in the gym apart from their peers as part of a routine that will keep repeating in the coming days, even if he eventually decided to travel to the Asian tour Arsenal something that is yet to confirm.
Besides working in the gym in the sports city of Arsenal, Fabregas will continue with his set-up for next season working out on your own with a trainer for about three hours.
Meanwhile, Barcelona will only move to the next few days, knowing that the offer of 35 million is set in stone and only wear every day could play in their favour. Meanwhile, as part of its strategy in the negotiation, the English club has included Cesc's image in promotional material for Arsenal's Asian tour.'
Source: AS (Spain)
Are they trying to suggest he refused to train? He had a tight hamstring or something, didn't he?
Yeah, I think so, mate. Not very subtle, is it?
El Mundo the Braca rag said he wouldn't be coming back to London, even their own side starting saying: 'You don't have a clue do you?'.
Barca should stop all the posturing and put their money where their mouth is.
Arsenal hold the cards to an extent - they want a fee which they'd easily get from any one of Chelsea, City or Inter (and probably even Real Madrid), while Barca are clearly unable to come up with the money.
Fabregas has a few years left on his contract so what have Arsenal got to lose? Even if Barca drop out they'll be able to find another buyer if he wants to leave, if not they'll keep him and he'll only sulk for so long before he realises he needs to keep playing well to get in the Spain side.
Why Fabregas wants to go to Barca to sit on the bench though is beyond me, especially as they seem more willing to splash out on other players than him. I'd tell them to get their arse in gear or piss off.
Arsenal hold the cards to an extent - they want a fee which they'd easily get from any one of Chelsea, City or Inter (and probably even Real Madrid), while Barca are clearly unable to come up with the money.
Fabregas has a few years left on his contract so what have Arsenal got to lose? Even if Barca drop out they'll be able to find another buyer if he wants to leave, if not they'll keep him and he'll only sulk for so long before he realises he needs to keep playing well to get in the Spain side.
Why Fabregas wants to go to Barca to sit on the bench though is beyond me, especially as they seem more willing to splash out on other players than him. I'd tell them to get their arse in gear or piss off.
Loving this
Ball Between Two: A Day in the Life of Cesc Fábregas
A Day in the Life of Cesc Fábregas
The following nonsense is made up. I don't even know if Cesc likes Jeremy Kyle.
09:51 Wake up. Pre-season training hasn't started yet so stay in bed watching Jeremy Kyle. Check phone. Two unread text messages. Both are from Arsène. The first one was sent at three in the morning, possibly under the influence of a few glasses of red wine. 'Cesc u r making a mistake', it reads. 'We were ment 2 b. We will b gr8 together. U and me, heroes of arsenal. Plz dont goooo'. Sigh in exasperation and open up the second text. This one is more succinct. 'Ignore last night's text. Please call me soon - Arsène.' Get up and make breakfast.
10:24 Watch DVD of Barcelona beating Manchester United at Wembley. Imagine that it is you that sets up Pedro to score the opening goal. Celebrate each of Barcelona's goals by sliding along the floor on your knees, just like you do every morning. Go up to the attic and fetch your Barcelona jersey. Hug it tightly and mutter 'soon, soon' surreptitiously.
12:34 Phone rings. Think it's Arsène so leave it go unanswered. Begin throwing darts at Brian Horton dartboard in your kitchen. Phone rings again. Answer it this time. It's a hack. Ask how he got your number but he ignores you. Hang up. Hack rings again. Tell hack that you love Arsenal but who knows what the future holds. Change phone number. Again. Begin to cook lunch (pizza) and return to dartboard.
14:11 Doorbell rings. It's Arsène. He asks if you got his text messages. Tell him you lost your phone. He smiles and invites himself in. Sit down on the couch and listen to Arsène talk about His Plan. Avoid eye contact. Stare at ground and tell Arsène that your mind is made up and there is nothing he can do about it. He starts to get angry and begins talking about League Cup runner-up medals. Ask him to leave. He slams the door while shouting, 'I don't need you, Denilson and Diaby are the best midfielders in the world.' You know he is lying. It still hurts.
16:01 Turn on Sky Sports News. The quote you fed the hack earlier is scrolled across the yellow ticker. Notice that quote has been altered to say that '[you] loved Arsenal but Barcelona is what the future holds.' Watch fans burn your Arsenal shirt outside the Emirates. Ring agent and ask him to clarify what you really said in the press. Read news of Thiago extending his contract with Barcelona and begin to panic. Text Gerard and tell him how much you miss him. Wait sixteen minutes and forty three seconds before you get a reply. Gerard says that he misses you too and that he and Carles are doing everything they can to bring you home. Smile.
18:35 Win the Champions League with Barcelona on Fifa 11. Score two goals as captain in the final. Finish the season as topscorer. Sell Thiago.
19:57 Doorbell rings. It's Wilshere. Don't answer. He climbs in through an open window. He starts to tell you off for making Arsène sad. He asks if you're really leaving for Barcelona. Tell him that you are. Enjoy the confused look on his face. 'But Barcelona's not even in England', he says. Usher him out when he starts singing God Save the Queen. Return to Fifa 11. Drop Messi and play yourself up front. Score a hattrick in a 3-0 victory against Real Madrid.
23:21 Go to bed. There is nothing on telly and you have no one to go out with. Sleep with picture of the time Pepe put a Barcelona shirt on you under your arm. Dream of the Champions League final. Again.
02:42 Woken up by a text. It's Arsène. 'Plz Cesc, i can change. Dont leave. Plz dont leave.'
Change phone number
Ball Between Two: A Day in the Life of Cesc Fábregas
I can see him going to Real... it's not as if he's going to bench Xavi at Barcelona, and his game suits Real more, more direct.
I'm sure his ego is telling him "I should settle for Madrid as my dream club who are showing persistent interest in me won't be able to accommodate me anyway".
I think he's not going anywhere in a hurry. Barca won't pay the money (£30M with £9M down? Do feck right off) and he's not going to Real or Inter.
I'm not saying a word.
The only thing linking him to Barcelona is that he's Catalan. He left them as a kid. And who is he going to bump out of the first team right now? Xavi has a few years in him yet, Busquets and Iniesta have been superb
Edit:
at BossThis would be the "Pep project" for the next season:
With Busquets/Mascherano playing as a CB when they are not in possession, it would be something of Ajax Van Gaalesque
Villa
Pedro-----------
-----------Messi
Iniesta Fabregas Xavi
-----Busquets
Abidal Pique ------ D.Alves
Valdes
Pedro-----------
-----------Messi
Iniesta Fabregas Xavi
-----Busquets
Abidal Pique ------ D.Alves
Valdes
With Busquets/Mascherano playing as a CB when they are not in possession, it would be something of Ajax Van Gaalesque
^I could actually see that happening as it gives scope for changing. They will have the ball most of the time given the ability of the players and Busquets can slide back to CB easily when they do not have the ball. And of course the top three will rotate (messi central, pedro right, villa left)
I guess 3-4-3 could work for them. I remember Hodgson explaining how the two of the defenders will go to cover the wings and the defensive midfielder (either Busquets or Mascherano) will slot back into defense and make it four defenders. That could work!
Seems to me like you're crow-barring a player in for the sake of it.
Why change a winning system? They couldn't keep the ball any better than they do now anyway so changing it makes absolutely no sense.
Guardiola has worked to get the best out of his side with the sysyem they play - and its worked out pretty well. He won't change it.
I suspect that Fabregas might be a player Pep would like, but not as much as the Chairman. Could all end in tears.
Huh? it's been the exact opposite of that. Guardiola has been threatening to leave at times because the Chairman didn't do enough to go and get Fabregas off Arsenal in previous years, especially last season when he did nearly leave, and there's talks of him just fecking off this year if they don't go and sign him.
I'm not entirely convinced this is going to go through - the two sides don't even appear close to a deal. What I hope we're doing right now, however, is lining up a replacement for if he does go, since otherwise we're stuffed.
He wants to try something of a bit different, and maybe better. They have an average of 80% of possession, and with Fabregas they will try that "new" thing
Not really new, because with Mascherano as CB/CM they play in that way
With Fabregas it would be all carried to the extreme.
I'm not so sure if thats the case now. Maybe last season he though Cesc would be the missing piece but now it seems apparent that the club value other targets more highly - seemingly desperate for forwards.
Last season proved that Barca have the best midfield bar none, and added to that they now have Thiago who was outstanding at the Under 21's and has just signed a new contract, presumably being promised more playing time.
As regards Pep leaving, I've not heard anything like that, or read it anywhere either, especially as Guardiola has signed a new contract.
Regardless, my point was that Guardiola is highly unlikely to tinker with such a succesful system and as a result it seems there isn't a regular starting spot for Cesc Fabregas at Barca.
I personally think any system would be unbalanced.
Barca rely heaviliy on width produced by fullbacks, particularly Alves. If you only have one centre back you can't allow them to get forward, even if a midfield player steps in.
The midfield would be overcrowded and the Defence potentially exposed.
But thats just my opinion.
Again, I dont see whay Guardiola would want to, or need to try anything different. he gets paid to win matches and trophies and the team and system he has will do just that.
Fabregas hasn't left YET
In all seriousness, he needs to leave this summer. In the last 5 years you could give a claim for Arsenal winning a trophy and Cesc staying, but with a player of his ability, he's wasted at Arsenal. I think they'll struggle for a CL spot this season and can't see them improving on 4th. If they want to focus their aim on the FA or Carling cup then that is by all means, reachable. However I don't think Wenger or any Arsenal fans will want to be reduced to that.
In all seriousness, he needs to leave this summer. In the last 5 years you could give a claim for Arsenal winning a trophy and Cesc staying, but with a player of his ability, he's wasted at Arsenal. I think they'll struggle for a CL spot this season and can't see them improving on 4th. If they want to focus their aim on the FA or Carling cup then that is by all means, reachable. However I don't think Wenger or any Arsenal fans will want to be reduced to that.
That's because Barca are playing the long game.
This long game which will probably come to a conclusion very early next summer. Wouldn't be surprised if we agreed a fee on the last day of next season.
Exactly the long game doesn't start to expire until summer 2013. We're not agreeing a fee fro 30M euros + two kids.
Arsenal fans are living in denial if they think that Cesc is gonna be an Arsenal player next season.
Full stop
If Barca find 50M euros he's gone - if not he stays.