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Fabregas keeps options open

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Cesc Fabregas insists it is by no means certain he will swap Arsenal for hometown club Barcelona this summer (Arsenal 7/1 – 2010/11 Premier League Outright).

The Gunners captain is away with Spain at the World Cup finals but the Catalan giants’ pursuit of his signature is well documented, with incoming Barca president Sandro Rosell looking to bring in a marquee player.

Fabregas appears to be keeping his options well and truly open, however, as he instead concentrates on Spain’s bid to add the world crown to the Euro 2008 title (Spain 11/4 Outright).

The 23-year-old told The Mirror: “I haven’t said that I will definitely leave Arsenal.

“Everything is possible. Now I have my head and my focus on the World Cup.

“I am very proud to be captain of Arsenal and I love the club and have respect for them. It gave me much pride to be made captain.”

Fabregas joined Arsenal as a 16-year-old and has gone on to make almost 200 career appearances for the north Londoners.

But Vilassar de Mar-born central midfielder has found it harder to establish himself in La Roja’s XI since his debut in 2006, with strong competition from the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, David Silva, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets and Marcos Senna over the years.

Spain have made it through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup where they face Paraguay in Johannesburg on Saturday (Paraguay 7/1, draw 11/4, Spain 1/2 – 90 Minutes).

And Barcelona star Xavi reckons Vicente del Bosque’s men are finding form at just the right time after losing their opening group game to Switzerland despite dominating over 90 minutes.

Speaking after the win over Iberian peninsula neighbours Portugal in the second round, the 30-year-old said: ?We played a great game. It was a great collective effort.

“We maintained possession and we wanted to play our style of football.

“Portugal basically gave us the ball. They tried to regain possession for counter-attacks but we dealt with it.

“We really enjoyed our football. It was the best match we’ve played in this World Cup so far.

“We controlled the ball in both halves but maybe attacked more in the second.

“We scored the goal and then we could enjoy it more.”

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Messi eyes Fabregas reunion

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Argentina and Barcelona's Lionel MessiBarcelona superstar Lionel Messi admits he is desperate to be reunited with Cesc Fabregas at the Catalan giants next season after Arsenal turned down an opening offer for the 23-year-old Spain international (Arsenal 6/1 – Premier League 2010/11 Outright).

Messi and Fabregas were team-mates during their days as trainees with the Nou Camp outfit before the midfielder made the switch to north London as a 16-year-old where he has gone on to make his name as one of Europe’s best players.

And Messi insists Fabregas’ return would help Barca in their bitter battle against arch-rivals Real Madrid who have been linked with summer moves for Steven Gerrard and Ashley Cole, among others, since Jose Mourinho was installed at the Bernabeu.

Messi told Sport: “I would like to play with Cesc again because I know him like (Gerard) Pique (from the youth team). We shared many things at that moment, when we coincided in Barca’s youth team, and I know what he can give on the pitch.”

Like Fabregas, Pique made the move away from Catalonia, to Manchester United, before returning to play a key role in defence over the last two seasons.

And Messi admits he and Fabregas are still in touch while claiming the Arsenal captain “wants to come to Barcelona”.

Messi added: “We speak and sometimes we send each other messages.

“He wants to come to Barcelona and we’re all waiting to see what will happen. I hope he ends up coming and that we can play together again.

“Nobody imagined that one day we could all be together in Barcelona’s first team, especially when Cesc and Pique left.

“For us to be together again would be special, a lovely situation for those of us that were there back then.”

Whether or not Fabregas is still on board remains to be seen, with Arsenal set to kick off their Premier League title challenge with a trip to Liverpool (Reds 5/4, draw 9/4, Gunners 7/4).

Totesport.com makes Chelsea the 13/8 favourites to retain their Premier League crown with Manchester United available at 2/1.

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‘Messi’ Barcelona approach for Fabregas: Arsenal to fight it?

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Cesc Fabregas 300x199 Messi Barcelona approach for Fabregas: Arsenal to fight it? Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has publically expressed his desire to fend off Barcelona and keep Cesc Fabregas at the Emirates Stadium, saying that the club will fight tooth and nail to keep their captain.

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Hill-Wood has said that the club are so adamant that Fabregas’ future lies at the North London club that the board have refused to even discuss a fee that would be needed to tempt them to sell.

La Liga champions Barcelona have made no secret of the fact that they want to sign the 23-year-old and they believe that the midfielder’s desire to play for the Catalan outfit will be the deciding factor in any move.

Speculation about Fabregas has been the talk of the back pages in both England and Spain in recent weeks and Hill-Wood has described Barcelona’s tactics of trying to tempt the player via the Spanish media as “a funny way of doing business.”

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The Spanish sports media is renowned for creating high-profile transfer speculation among Europe’s elite players, but this is one occasion when they may be justified.

Fabregas has publically acknowledged his desire to return the club he supports and progressed through the youth system as a boy.

Barcelona’s well documented interest in the Spain international could be made official today if they make their predicted initial bid of £30m – a figure that will do little to prise Fabregas away as Arsenal are thought to value their captain at around £50m.

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  3. Messi, Ibrahimovic back for Barcelona but Derby Worries Pep Guardiola


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Fabregas ‘wants to leave Arsenal’

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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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Fabregas fears future distraction

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Spain’s Cesc Fabregas says unless his club future is sorted out quickly it could prove a damaging distraction at the World Cup.

But the Arsenal star says he is in no rush to leave the Gunners for Barcelona.

The midfielder was in the youth ranks at Barcelona before transferring to Arsenal at the age of 16 and he has often been linked with a move back to the Primera Division leaders.

Reports suggest he could be the subject of an offer this summer as Barcelona prepare for their presidential elections at the end of the season.

Fabregas readily admits that he does want to play for Barca at some point in his career, but is adamant he is not pushing for a move away from Arsenal.

However, the 23-year-old is keen to ensure any uncertainty regarding his club future is put to bed before Spain start their World Cup challenge in South Africa. They are 4/1 favourites to lift the trophy.

“I want to make a decision about my future before the World Cup,” said Fabregas, who expects to recover from a cracked fibula in time to be fit for the tournament.

“It’s impossible to perform at a tournament such as the World Cup if you’re not fully focused on the sporting aspects of the game. It does not benefit anyone.

“If I ever leave Arsenal it will be to play for Barcelona. I would like to go, whether they want me or not is another matter.

“I am 23 years old and I have a long career in front of me. I’ve never hidden the fact that playing for Barcelona is a dream that I would like to fulfil.

“I’m very happy at Arsenal. I’m in no hurry to leave the club.

“Barcelona are still playing for the Liga title and I’m still an Arsenal player. It would be a lack of respect to discuss a transfer now.

“No candidates for the Barcelona presidency have approached me, so I don’t feel used.”

Fabregas has been part of the Spanish set up since playing in the Under-17 side at the 2003 World U-17 Championships in Finland, and he was given a national call-up in 2006.

He played in the 2006 World Cup and at Euro 2008 where he helped Spain to lift the trophy. Fabregas was named in the Team of the Tournament, a 23-player squad selected by the UEFA Technical team.

He now has 47 caps for Spain, and has scored five goals, most recently in the friendly 1-1 draw against Austria in Vienna last November.

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Fabregas unsure over future

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Cesc Fabregas says he wants his future sorting before the World Cup (Spain 4/1 favourites to win) with Barcelona keen to take him back to Spain.

Speculation linking Fabregas with a return to Spain has refused to go away but now it seems as though the midfielder is pushing for a move, and who could blame him.

Arsenal again finished the season without any silverware to show for their efforts and with the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham emerging as major forces in the Premier League, he could now be running out of patience.

The Gunners are 6/1 to win the Premier League next season with Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City ahead of them in the betting and Fabregas will no doubt feel another trophy free season could be on the cards.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been promised transfer funds this summer but chances are it will not be enough to compete with their Premier League rivals, and the imminent arrival of Marouane Chamakh will not scare anyone.

Not many players in world football could improve Barcelona but Fabregas is certainly one of them and he would no doubt be a regular in Pep Guardiola’s starting eleven

Fabregas has insisted he is in no rush to leave the Gunners but reading between the lines it seems as though the midfielder is keen to return to the Nou Camp sooner rather than later.

The fact he wants a decision making over his future suggests he wants to leave. The player is tied down to a long-term lucrative deal at the Emirates Stadium so the only decision that Arsenal have to make is whether to sell him or not.

If he was happy to stay then why bring up the subject of a possible move to Barcelona? He would just concentrate on getting fit for the World Cup and say nothing about his club football.

“I want to make a decision about my future before the World Cup,” Fabregas revealed.

“It’s impossible to perform at a tournament such as the World Cup if you’re not fully focused on the sporting aspects of the game. It does not benefit anyone.

“If I ever leave Arsenal it will be to play for Barcelona. I would like to go, whether they want me or not is another matter.

“I am 23 years old and I have a long career in front of me. I’ve never hidden the fact that playing for Barcelona is a dream that I would like to fulfil.

“I’m very happy at Arsenal. I’m in no hurry to leave the club.

“Barcelona are still playing for the Liga title and I’m still an Arsenal player. It would be a lack of respect to discuss a transfer now.”

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Spain receive Fabregas boost

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Arsenal and Spain's Cesc FabregasSpain (4/1f for the World Cup) have received a pre-World Cup boost with midfielder Cesc Fabregas declaring himself confident of making the start of the tournament in South Africa.

The 22-year-old Arsenal star has been out of action since he suffered a cracked bone in his fibula against Barcelona in the March 31 Champions League quarter-final, and ended the Premier League season in the stands.

Fabregas has been recuperating in Spain, and believes he is well on track to be fit for the World Cup opener against Switzerland in Durban on June 16 (Spain 1/3, draw 10/3, Switzerland 9/1).

He said: “I am pleased to say that my recovery from a cracked fibula is on schedule.

“I have started jogging for the first time, and it looks as if I will begin running again properly tomorrow.

“I am happy with how things are going and now I just have to be patient, making sure I come back as strongly as I can.”

He added: “On May 24, I will join up with the Spanish national team and should be able to join in a bit when we play Saudi Arabia five days later.

“The timing is looking good for the World Cup, but I am sad not to have played a part in the end of Arsenal’s season.”

Fabregas has been a vital part of Arsenal’s campaign, which ended with them finishing in third place in the Premier League.

The former Barcelona trainee, who joined Arsenal in 2003 at the age of 16, began his international career with Spain when he played at the FIFA U-17 World Championship in Finland in 2003, and was called up to the senior squad ahead of the 2006 World Cup.

He helped Spain win Euro 2008, and has now scored five times in 47 appearances for the national team.

He has already battled back from one serious injury, just in time to make the Confederations Cup last June, which was also staged in South Africa.

He scored what was his second international goal in the 5-0 win against New Zealand in the group stages, and was part of the team that was shocked 2-0 by the USA in the semi-finals.

Fabregas was last on target for the national side in November, when scoring in the 5-1 win in Vienna which Spain won 5-1.

The star will be hoping that off-field distractions are kept to a minimum ahead of the tournament, as there have been rumours of him leaving the Emirates Stadium to join Barcelona.

Barca’s Yaya Toure has apparently suggested that he could move to Arsenal as part of a deal taking Fabregas the other way, with suggestions that a further £25 million could be paid to Arsenal.

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