Emirates captain will not be moving to Nou Camp…not at that
price anyway.
At only 23 and with a contract until 2015, Arsenal
believe that Fabregas belongs among the elite group of players
(Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Torres) who have commanded
transfer fees of at least €50 million.
“Barca is not disposed to pay €50 million for Cesc Fabregas next
summer,” said Sandro Rosell, the Barcelona
president. “That is decided and, although [Pep] Guardiola demands
this player, we will not pay this amount.
“It is impossible due to a simple reason. In football, prices are
reduced each year and, if we offered Arsenal €40 million for Cesc
last summer, 50 million is now impossible. If the coach demands
Cesc we will negotiate with the Gunners but at a correct limit and
without madness and, if the operation is not possible, we will wait
for other opportunities.”
The situation regarding Fabregas could be further complicated by
Barcelona’s financial situation, with the
club recording a loss of £65 million and debts of £272 million for
the 2009-10 accounting year.
Rosell also admitted that relations between the two clubs were
soured by Arsenal recruiting Jon Miguel Toral from the Barcelona
academy.
“Our relationship with Arsenal is not good – the Toral issue has
not pleased us,” Rosell said. “The future of Cesc is in his hands
and we could only negotiate with Arsenal if Guardiola insists. Only
with any sale is it possible to increase the money for the
negotiations.”
SOURCE: Telegraph
Is Sandro Rosell serious? A valuation of £43m in today’s market
seems more than reasonable, and clearly if they are not willing to
pay it then fine, but if not then surely they have to respect a
club’s decision on the matter. If I go to a shop and they are
charging x amount for a product and I can’t afford it or I think
it’s too much, then I don’t bother to hassle the shop or get angry
about it, I leave.
Barcelona will of course continue to play the media game this
summer and if anyone think’s this is the end of the matter, they
are seriously mistaken. Cesc Fabregas is very
much a player Pep Guardiola wants but one has to wonder at the
wisdom of such a move for the Emirates skipper.
Where would the talented Spanish international fit into the
starting eleven? Neither Xavi or Andres Iniesta will be dropped, so
where exactly will he find himself? That’s right, on the Nou Camp
bench. That’s not because he isn’t a great player, it’s because he
isn’t as good as either of those two fellow Spaniards, which is no
shame as both are considered the best in the business in their
respective positions.
Such a purchase by the Catalan giants would be a view to the
future and not to now, and Fabregas would have to take this into
account before pushing for a move away from the Emirates. The likes
of Samir Nasri, Andrei Arshavin and Robin Van Persie are also
reportedly being chased by interested parties, but don’t expect
manager’s of the club’s pursuing them to say “It’s not fair,
Arsenal want too much money!”.
