FABREGAS: Staying for now
Monday July 28,2008
CESC FABREGAS has hinted he is interested in a
move to Real Madrid, but poured cold water on the idea he could
move there this summer.
Reports in Spain say
Real president Ramon Calderon, resigned to missing out on
Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, has prepared a
big-money offer for Fabregas.
But while Fabregas, a
product of the Barcelona youth academy, revealed he could move to
Madrid in the future, he insists he wants to stay at Arsenal for
the time being.
“I did not tell Ramon
Calderon no,” said Fabregas. “I told him that now wasn’t the time
to go to Madrid. “That you are wanted by Madrid, one of the biggest
teams in history, is important.”
Fabregas enjoyed a great
summer at Euro 2008 as he helped Spain end their 44-year wait for a
trophy.
In England, however, for
the third year on the trot he ended the season empty-handed.
Fabregas, who feels he
would be certain to lift a trophy should he opt for Spanish
champions Real, admits that another season without any silverware
could see him head for the exit door. “To be four
seasons without winning any titles would be too much for me,”
added Fabregas.
“Real Madrid are the
favourites to win La Liga this year.” Arsenal’s trophy-less season
was made even more painful as rivals Manchester United swept all
before them at home and in Europe.
Alexander Hleb,
meanwhile, has denied calling former Arsenal team-mate
Fabregas selfish and says they are good friends. Hleb, who recently
moved to Barcelona, set the record straight over an article which
quoted him as lambasting both Fabregas and Gunners boss Arsene
Wenger.
“Cesc is my best friend
at Arsenal and he knows that everything I have to say I’ll say it
to his face, as always. “I only said that when Cesc had the ball
you didn’t know where he was going to put it because he is so good
that he can pass it to the left or right – and that was changed
into criticism of his way of playing.”
