Barcelona midfielder Xavi believes Arsenal are merely delaying
the inevitable by preventing Cesc Fabregas from joining the Spanish
champions.
Fabregas was the subject of a £29million approach by the Catalan
club prior to the World Cup but the Gunners are reluctant to part
with their prize asset, who has five years left on his current
contract.
Arsenal appeared to gain the upper hand in the protracted saga
when Barca coach Pep Guardiola conceded on Monday that the north
London club would have the final say on the 23-year-old's
future.
Signing on: Cesc Fabregas is pictured autographing
a Barcelona shirt in Spain
But Xavi, a member of Spain's victorious World Cup squad
alongside Fabregas, is confident a deal will be reached to take the
former Barcelona trainee back to the Nou Camp - be it this summer
or next.
'We know where Cesc wants to be this coming season, but perhaps
there is not enough time for Barcelona and Arsenal to agree a
deal,' Xavi told the Daily Express.
'Arsenal need to understand they are only delaying the
inevitable. If we don't manage to get his signature this season
then Arsenal only really have him on loan for a year - because
there is nothing they can do to stop him joining next summer.
Midfield maestros: Fabregas (left) and Xavi
celebrate Spain's World Cup win
'I haven't given up on him joining us this season but, if he
doesn't, it won't be more than a year before he is back home.
'His people will have a whole season to sort out the deal
between the two clubs and it will happen at the very latest next
summer.'
Xavi claims Fabregas told his international team-mates he was
keen on joining Barcelona while on World Cup duty.
Taking it easy: Fabregas is relaxing in Ibiza
following his World Cup adventure
'We were all with him for five weeks in South Africa and we know
he wants to be at Barcelona, he made it very clear,' Xavi
added.
'But he will under no circumstances do anything that will upset
the Arsenal fans. And that's probably why we are going to have to
wait for him for another year.'
