Cesc Fabregas has given the clearest indication yet that he will join Barcelona this summer after telling manager Arsene Wenger he wants to leave Arsenal, according to reports (6/1 Arsenal – Premier League 2010-11 outright).
The news will come as a devastating blow to the Frenchman’s hopes of building a title-winning team around the influential Spain midfielder.
Fabregas, who has been undergoing treatment in Spain on the leg injury which ended his campaign, has made no secret of his desire to re-join the club he left in 2003 when aged just 16 and said recently he wanted his future resolved before the World Cup starts on June 11 (Spain – World Cup 2010 Specials).
Reports have suggested he has contacted the Emirates boss to inform him that he wants to quit the Gunners.
Fabregas’ bombshell comes on the same day vice president Rafael Yuste announced Barca were also in talks to sign highly-rated Valencia striker David Villa in an attempt to win back the Champions League trophy next season (4/1 Villa – Top La Liga Goalscorer World Cup 2010).
He told the Catalonian radio station Ona FM: “Negotiations are progressing well, especially in the case of Villa.”
Yuste suggested the Catalan giants had not made the progress they would have liked on the capture of Fabregas, but that they were sure he wanted to move back to the Nou Camp.
He added: “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.”
Fabregas has only won one major trophy since arriving in north London – the FA Cup in 2005 – and the chance to play alongside Spain team-mates such as Andres Iniesta and Xavi is understood to be behind his reason for wanting to leave (21/10 Spain – Top European Team).
Reacting to Fabregas’ initial comment about wanting to return, outgoing Barca president Joan Laporta said: “It is remarkable that the player has said that.
“If the technical secretary [Txiki Begiristain] believes we must make an effort, we will do and will talk to Arsenal.”
The speculation intensified on Monday when Dimitri Selcuk, the agent of current Barca midfield enforcer Yaya Toure, revealed his client could be used as a makeweight in the deal to take Fabregas back to Spain.
He said: “There is a one in a thousand chance that Toure will be involved in the move for Cesc with Arsenal.”
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