Even though their players are now busy in Asia on their pre-season tour, Barcelona have ensured that they keep up their public pursuit of Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas with the latest comments from Lionel Messi suggesting that a deal could still happen before the end of the summer transfer window, because at the end of the day, Cesc’s heart is with the Catalan club.
Barcelona have already failed with an initial bid of £30 million for the midfielder with the Gunners maintaining that their captain would not be for sale at any price. However, the Spanish international has already made it clear several times in public that he has the intention to return to his boyhood club who had sold him to Arsenal when he was a teenager.
Messi – who was team mates with Fabregas during their days together in the Barca youth academy – has now made fresh comments over the situation by claiming that Gunners boss Arsene Wenger should be the intelligent man that he appears to be and not force an unwilling player to stay at the Emirates Stadium.
“I am still confident Cesc will come home this summer,” Messi said. “Arsene Wenger is an intelligent and decent man and he knows where Cesc’s heart is.
“It is only natural he is trying to keep Cesc, but I don’t think he would keep anyone long-term whose heart is at another club.
“I can’t understand why people are so sure that the Fabregas deal is on hold until next summer – the window has not shut yet and Barcelona still want Fabregas and he still wants Barcelona.
“So it is beyond me as to why people think we have to wait until next summer to do a deal.
“When a player wants to come and a club wants a player, a deal can always be reached. And I am still confident he will arrive this summer (and) there is nothing anybody can do to stop Cesc joining Barcelona if it be this summer or the next.”
Messi also denied that Barcelona have done anything wrong with their behaviour in the protracted saga. Apart from Barcelona officials having reportedly met Fabregas to discuss a move without prior approval from Arsenal, the club have also apparently asked several players to continue making public statements to force the Gunners’ hands in the matter. There were also suggestions over Barca instructing Fabregas on how to force through his own move when he returns to north London, such that the Catalan club would not have to pay more than what they could afford for his signature.
“I think Barcelona have acted in the right way. Yes of course players have come out and said we want Cesc but what’s the problem with that?” added Messi.
“He is our friend and one of the finest footballers anywhere in the world. I want him to join and have no problem with saying that on the record.”
Tags: Arsenal, Barcelona, Cesc Fabregas, English Premier League, La Liga, Lionel Messi, transfer news
