Official Arsenal FC Supporters Thread

[RanzB]

Cesc Fabregas Tells Arsene Wenger In 'Emotional' Face-To-Face Meeting He Wants To Quit Arsenal For Barcelona

Cesc Fabregas has told Arsene Wenger in a face-to-face meeting today that he wants to quit Arsenal and rejoin Barcelona, Goal.com UK can confirm.

In a showdown described only as "emotional", the midfielder delivered the bombshell to his mentor and the man to whom he feels he owes his career that, following some agonising soul-searching, he wants to leave the club that he joined as a 16-year-old.

It is understood that the talks between Wenger and Fabregas, who flew into the UK today from Spain for treatment on his injured knee, took place in London.

The Arsenal manager is believed to have taken the decision calmly and asked him to stay at Emirates Stadium for one more season, but the 23-year-old has set his heart on returning to his boyhood club this summer.

You see the source, so as usual, pinch of salt please.

 

[sh4rpz]

Looking over the twitter posts, the official arsenal twitter source strongly denies this as AW isn't in the UK at all. It is a follow up story to suggest that AW is in London to tie up the Chamakh deal - however, that is being handled by Ken Friar and Ivan Gazidis. We're told AW in is France for a end of season awards ceremony also included in AFCTV's online package in which AW will receive an award.

Other sources suggest Cesc is in Spain on rest and rehab for the WC - apparently this comes off his sister's myspace and twitter pages - although I think that anyone who goes to read a footballer's familie's social network are plain ol stalkers.

At the moment it is as 2007,2008 and 2009 - just rumours which are gathering pace. Some Arsenal fans are losing it, attacking Fabregas and attempting a protest at the Emirates Cup - all a waste of time if you ask me - Great players come and go and there will be more great players who will come after him.

They will not let him go without a fight, the right price and a replacement in hand.

 

[sh4rpz]

If its his will we won't stop him. Wenger never has. I will be sad if he leaves but no-one is bigger than the team. Its a club and not a 1 man show, people need to remember this, and this is why people must start questioning Wengers vision, just for the sake of the club... I am not saying its wrong, but it needs to be reviewed. Back to the topic, I personally think he will stay 1 more season and by then Wilshere Ramsey and Nasri will be good enough.

I agree with your comments about no player being more important than the team - and if he wants to leave, AW will not stop him. At this stage of his Arsenal career, I don't think he needs convincing. We cannot fault the lad, cos he has come out and tried his heart out for what has been average team at times.

I have no doubt that should he leave, whether this season or in 10 seasons time, we will have had a replacement ready or at least someone in mind. If we were to sell Cesc for say 40-50m GBP, then it would be good business and a step into the market for one of Nuri Sahin or even Yohann Goucouff, who is after a move, would be sensible replacements. I do feel Nasri can do it, but I fear it has maybe come a year too soon for him. The likes of Ozyukup and Wilshere, Merida (if he signs a new deal) could also fill that role in the future.

 

[sh4rpz]

Randhir, just a quick read through of this article, I found that this quote

"Rafael Yuste told the Catalonian radio station Ona FM that he remained confident that deals for Valencia's David Villa and Fabregas were both on: “Negotiations are progressing well, especially in the case of Villa.

"The situation with Cesc is different because even if you have the will of the player it is very important to talk to his club and, if you can, find an agreement. But what makes it easier is that both players want to come to Barca.”"

was shown on the major sports news stations as having come from Laporta himself. So, this is a bit odd.

50-50 at this point.

 

[RanzB]

Randhir, just a quick read through of this article, I found that this quote

was shown on the major sports news stations as having come from Laporta himself. So, this is a bit odd.

50-50 at this point.

Look, I'm not saying I believe it, i don't tend to believe most of this rubbish unless it's from the clubs themselves, or a reputable, official source. As for the change in source attributed above, could just be (Assuming it were true), that the source was changed to Laporta for more name-recognition to get the story more oomph. But i agree with you that these stories seem unlikely.

 

[sh4rpz]

Look, I'm not saying I believe it, i don't tend to believe most of this rubbish unless it's from the clubs themselves, or a reputable, official source. As for the change in source attributed above, could just be (Assuming it were true), that the source was changed to Laporta for more name-recognition to get the story more oomph. But i agree with you that these stories seem unlikely.

no bud, not attacking you or anything, my quote thingy wasn't working right. Sorry for any confusion in the tone of my reply!

yep, these stories are generally aimed at selling newspapers and getting website hits.

 

[BombThePeer]

Arsenal will never win the world cup!

 

[iDOL]

As I said, no use in speculating any further - if and when he does leave - expect Barca to pay a hefty sum.

£ 500,000.00 is what Arsenal paid in compensation to Barca back then - so anything more than that is bonus, bonus.

Yes Arsenal is losing a world class player - not that they were going to do very much with him in the team anyways.

Whilst Arsene insists that players like Diaby, Denilson, Bendtner and their like are world class - players that are really world class like Cesc will continue to be frustrated.

This current team requires a massive overall - now is a good a time as any. With Cesc the current heart ripped out - he can go big and bring in the 5+ players that this team requires.

Knowing the way he goes about doing things, we know it won't happen. So we will wait out the remainder of the Arsene years.

Wenger is fulfilling his mandate admirably - considering his restrictions - Arsenal have remained somewhat competitive in both the Premier League and Champs League.

Considering that in the last year Arsenal cut their overall debt down by £ 100 million

Club cut net from £332.8m to £203.6m

I am not too concerned - once this painful period is over Arsenal will be better for it and so much stronger.

I mean other 6 trophy teams only made a profit of £ 7 million pounds in the period.

Whilst another heavily in debt, will be forced to cough up an additional £ 36 in interest due to their debts going above 5 times their income.

So as an Arsenal supporter - I am not happy about the state of the team and the attitude of the manager toward spending money on players - to achieve success(spending cash does not equal trophy), but I am realistic about things.

 

[Cantera]

no less than what you paid for ibra!

Never going to happen. Paying a record fee for a player that we made as a youngster, not going to happen.

Reading all the comments, seems like you Arsenal boys have already given into the fact that Cesc wont be there next season.

 

[dbecks]

Never going to happen. Paying a record fee for a player that we made as a youngster, not going to happen.

Reading all the comments, seems like you Arsenal boys have already given into the fact that Cesc wont be there next season.

Says who?Based on what logic You guys paid over the odds for Ibra nuff said!

 

[dbecks]

Never going to happen. Paying a record fee for a player that we made as a youngster, not going to happen.

Reading all the comments, seems like you Arsenal boys have already given into the fact that Cesc wont be there next season.

Says who?Based on what? You guys paid over the odds for Ibra and that wasnt so "logical"

 

[Cantera]

Says who?Based on what? You guys paid over the odds for Ibra and that wasnt so "logical"

From the start the Barca board has always had a stance of not paying crazy amounts of money for players that came through the Cantera. Why do you think we picked up Pique for so dirt cheap, Barca would have never paid buckets of cash for him.

He basically forced the transfer to go back to Barcelona.

Im more interested to see how the David Villa transfer turns out, Cesc isnt the biggest transfer for me.

Geez you guys hate Ibra. We paid exactly what Ibra was worth. Eto was valued at 20 million and thats what we sold him for.

Everybody makes such a big deal about Eto, why didnt your club buy him for 20 million when he was on the market? We all know how desperate United is for a striker to partner Rooney.

 

[dbecks]

From the start the Barca board has always had a stance of not paying crazy amounts of money for players that came through the Cantera. Why do you think we picked up Pique for so dirt cheap, Barca would have never paid buckets of cash for him.

He basically forced the transfer to go back to Barcelona.

Im more interested to see how the David Villa transfer turns out, Cesc isnt the biggest transfer for me.

Geez you guys hate Ibra. We paid exactly what Ibra was worth. Eto was valued at 20 million and thats what we sold him for.

Everybody makes such a big deal about Eto, why didnt your club buy him for 20 million when he was on the market? We all know how desperate United is for a striker to partner Rooney.

Pique vs Fab big difference!

 

[nivek]

Never going to happen. Paying a record fee for a player that we made as a youngster, not going to happen.

Reading all the comments, seems like you Arsenal boys have already given into the fact that Cesc wont be there next season.

And there you go again, insinuating that Cesc has learnt nothing in the past 8 years at Arsenal

Arsenal made Cesc into the player he is today, and for that, you will PAY

 

[sh4rpz]

From the start the Barca board has always had a stance of not paying crazy amounts of money for players that came through the Cantera. Why do you think we picked up Pique for so dirt cheap, Barca would have never paid buckets of cash for him.

He basically forced the transfer to go back to Barcelona.

Im more interested to see how the David Villa transfer turns out, Cesc isnt the biggest transfer for me.

Geez you guys hate Ibra. We paid exactly what Ibra was worth. Eto was valued at 20 million and thats what we sold him for.

Everybody makes such a big deal about Eto, why didnt your club buy him for 20 million when he was on the market? We all know how desperate United is for a striker to partner Rooney.

...

I heard it said yesterday that Barcelona aren't willing to do any deal
worth more than £30m (that would include player swap deals too) as
they feel Cesc was a Barcelona youth product so they shouldn't have to
pay any more. Here's the news, Barcelona, where Cesc played his youth
football is entirely irrelevant. He plays for Arsenal now and he's got
a contract with us. If you really, really want him, and if Arsenal are
prepared to sell him, you will have to pay what he's worth. At 23 he's
got a minimum of 7 or 8 seasons at the very top. Minimum. He is the
best young central midfield player in the world. If Man City are
reportedly willing to pay £24m for James Milner you'd want to be
doubling that, at least, if you want to buy Cesc Fabregas.

In this regard Arsenal hold a good hand and I'm sure we'll do our best
to hang on to him. I know, I know, when a player wants to leave and
all that, but that doesn't mean you have to crumble on the price. I'm
going with an if again - if Cesc wants to leave and if Barcelona
really want to sign him, they're going to have to pay the market
price. I know that, you know that, and that means Barcelona and Cesc
know that. Don't believe any stories which say Cesc has made demands
of Arsenal, he has too much respect for the club, for the fans and for
Arsene to do that.

If Barcelona think they can get him on the cheap because of his 'DNA'
then they're mistaken. If they don't come up with the readies then
Cesc will stay at Arsenal. I do like the way papers report 'all that's
left is to agree a fee' as if this were some mere trifle. It's not,
it's a ****ing huge part of it, and if Barcelona want to treat it as a
triviality they might find things don't go the way they want (and what
does it say to the player who they supposedly want so badly?).

great perspective by arseblogger this morning - keeping a bit of sanity amidst the madness - full article to the quote here: www.oleole.com/blogs/arseblog

 

[sh4rpz]

By the by,

The following is for Cantera and Barcelona - RE: Cesc

http://www.oddity.co.za/arsenesletter.jpg

 

[Cantera]

Shame, seems like you guys are losing it because you might lose your best player.

I think we all missing one important aspect here and that is what Cesc wants.

Cesc will force the move to Barcelona, when that happens, there is very little anybody can do.

 

[iDOL]

@Cantera - Arsenal and their supporters have largely known all along that Cesc will leave Arsenal - most have accepted it now already.

Cesc can force the move all he wants, but in the end Barca will pay and he will go .

Nothing to it. But stump up the cash Barca will, he still has 4 years on his contract, so no way of him buying out his contract.

So the fun is watching Barca stumping up the cash and paying to have one of their own come back home.

The nice thing about Barca is the politics of it all - you see Barca is having another presidential election again - so the longer the saga drags out, the better for Arsenal - in the end the candidates will promise to deliver Cesc if he is not there yet.

So to fulfill that mandate - they will have to pay - whatever it takes.

Overmars + extra got £ 20mil
Petit £20mil
Henry - £ 16 mil
Hleb - £ 15 mil

So pay for Cesc they will. Apparently Barca are trying to farm off Henry to some MLS side - so that they can get him off their wage bill.

 

[Cantera]

Im sure Barca will pay but if you expecting 60 or 70 million you must be smoking some good tea bags.

Laporta is behind the Cesc move. He wants to bring Villa and Cesc to the club before he leaves.

 

[iDOL]

yeah, Auntie Joan thinks he can leave in a blaze of glory, unfortunately that may count against him as well - pride will make certain either him or 1 of the 2 candidates for the top job will sign over the £ 50mil + fee for Fabregas.

But as I said, with 4 years on contract - Cesc is going nowhere - without them paying top dollar for his services if they want.

Arsenal will even start an auction if that is what he wants - I am certain there's a 2 clubs that will definitely pay a great deal for his services - there's no lacking in suitors and I am certain Barca in blood he may be, but Madrid can certainly sell their vision to him of a world class team of Ka@ka, Ronaldo and who ever else they desire. So Barca will get their wishes, but at a great cost - he aint coming cheaply.

Sky also reporting that Arsenal have indicated no formal offer has been received for Fabregas and they are not soliciting any offers for his services

In the end Barca is only helping Arsenal - look at it this way - Arsenal take a short term knock in the form of having to find another Midfield general(Nasri - time to stand up or Arshavin being able to play from midfield as opposed to the wing), but taking whatever amount Barca pays and using it to pay-off their debt - gets them ever so closer to getting rid of the only thing holding them back at the moment.

Looking at the wage bill - it appears Arsenal can compete in terms of paying players what they want(get rid of all the don't deserve average players earning a decent wage) - once the stadium debt is paid they can afford to go big - £ 50 mil now for Cesc brings that ability so much closer.

Next season Arshavin will go (if not sooner).


a little bit from Myles Palmer :

"My view? Go with our blessing. You've been a phenomenal player for Arsenal and you don't owe them a thing. And Wenger will get a mega transfer fee for you.




My advice to Gooners? Be realistic : foreign players will always leave Arsenal. Always, always, always. If you have a French manager who doesn't trust British players, your best players will leave.

My final message to Cesc is short and simple : Well done. Thank you. Good luck