Cesc Fabregas has broken his silence to
begrudgingly commit his future to Arsenal.
The Spain midfielder admitted that he dreamed of
re-joining Barcelona but conceded he was powerless to make the
Gunners accept a bid.
Arsenal rejected a £29million offer from Barca in
early June and Fabregas has given up hope of going home after
revealing that a second formal offer had also been knocked
back.
You lose! Wenger (left) watches his captain train
at the Emirates on Thursday
Reports in Catalonia today say that the champions
of Spain were preparing one final approach, but Fabregas insists
that he is now only thinking about the Gunners.
He said: 'Firstly I would like to apologise to all the Arsenal
fans for not speaking sooner about my future but I have not known
what I was going to do until this moment.
'I cannot deny that joining a club like Barcelona was not an
attractive move for me.
'This was the club where I learned 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 the world who would not want to
play for Barcelona.'
The only Barca shirt he'll be wearing this year!
Spain team-mates (from left) Pepe Reina, Gerard Pique and Carles
Puyol embarrass Fabregas after the country's World Cup triumph last
month
The 23-year-old told his manager Arsene Wenger before the World
Cup that he wanted to go to Barcelona, but the Frenchman remained
steadfast in his intention not to part with a player who was still
under contract for five more years.
Fabregas said: 'I have had many conversations with Arsene Wenger
both in person and over the phone over the last few months and
although the content of those conversations will remain private,
the conclusion is that Barcelona have had two formal offers
rejected by Arsenal.
'I am a professional and I fully understand that it is Arsenal's
prerogative not to sell me. I owe a lot to the club, manager and
the fans and I will respect their decision and will now concentrate
on the new season ahead with Arsenal.
Emirates idol: Fans show support for Cesc at
Thursday's open training session
'I can assure all the fans that now the negotiations have ended
I will be 100 per cent focused on playing for Arsenal.
'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.
'I am looking forward to the start of the season and putting
this speculation behind me.'
