As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
Cesc Fabregas is refusing to discuss his future, but claims he stands by comments he has made in the past.
The Arsenal midfielder, who tasted World Cup glory with Spain at this summer's World Cup, continues to find himself at the centre of a long-running transfer saga.
Primera Liga giants Barcelona have been chasing his signature for a while, with the player himself admitting that he would welcome a switch to Camp Nou.
As a Catalan native, Fabregas has often expressed a desire to return to his roots at some stage.
It was reported prior to the World Cup that he had informed Gunners boss Arsene Wenger of his wish to head back to Spain, and Barca subsequently saw an official approach knocked back.
Things have failed to progress since then, with events in South Africa taking centre stage, but the transfer mill is set to spring back to life now the World Cup is over.
Future
Fabregas is determined to steer clear of the speculation for as long as possible, but he has admitted that he still harbours an ambition to play for Barca sooner rather than later.
"I have not spoken to anybody in the last few days and I want to ignore anything regarding my future for now," he said.
"I want to enjoy my holidays and I don't want to talk about Barcelona at this moment.
"I make no apologies for the comments I have made in the past. I have expressed my interest in returning and I stand by that, as that is my personal wish."
Reports in Spain suggest Barca officials have once again looked to make contact with their Arsenal counterparts, with newly-appointed president Sandro Rossell keen to complete his summer transfer business as quickly as possible.
It is claimed that Barca are only prepared to hold out until the end of the July in their efforts to land Fabregas before turning their attention elsewhere
If this quote is true, then he's just told everyone while refusing to comment he wants to go.
Bayern stayed strong on Ribery and reaped the benefits though they signed Robben , that said if Cesc leads us to the same success then I will be happy. End of.
Eboue-Why? wrote:Saw a headline on the back of the Standard this evening along the lines of 'Barca admit defeat in trying to sign Fabregas'
I didn't read the article but signs promising?!?!?
GET IN!!!!!!!!!
WEVE GOT FABREGAS ON LOAN FOR ONE MORE SEASON, MAYBE
BREAK OUT THE CHAMPAGNE
WHAT A GUY
BARCA GOT NO MONEY DO HE'S STAYING HERE.....WHAT A GUY....WHAT A CAPTAIN....THIS IS SUCH A PROUD MOMENT IN OUR FOOTBALL CLUBS HISTORY.
He was ALWAYS going to go. If we have another season of one of the world's best players AND he gives us as much as he always has given us then what the fuck are you moaning about?
Would you rather have £35m that the manager won't spend?
Not the ideal situation but better to have him than not I say
Some of the media outlets are suggesting that barca are on the verge of making a 40m stg take it or leave it offer for cesc and I am wondering if any of the fans who were opposed to the sale (like I was) would change their mind if barca did offer that ? It is great that barca have come out with the soundbites saying that they may have to wait until next summer to buy cesc and it's great that wenger has said that the matter is now closed but what about what cesc thinks ? If barca do indeed offer that much will cesc feel that it is a fair offer and that he should be allowed to leave and if he does feel that way will we have an unhappy player in the camp if we still refuse to sell (as is our right of course) ? I think if they did offer that amount to refuse it on the basis that it is an insulting bid is not realistic - either we accept if or we reject it on the basis that he is not for sale.
Personally unless cesc is 100% committed to us next season then I would sell him for that amount but of course I aint the manager.
I honestly feel that Cesc's value is £45 - 50M rather than £40M, and that we should try to sell him this summer for £45M minimum.
I reckon the time to sell could well be now, because his World Cup Final assist and huge popularity in Spain are in evidence ...now.
Next year...who knows?
He might have an average season, given that he wants to leave and it takes a bit of an edge off his game, in the way that happened to Vieira after Real Madrid tried to sign him.
Cesc might (G-D forbid) get injured.
I do not want a cloud hanging over the club, and would like to see the team move forward with a captain who is as committed as possible.
augie wrote:Some of the media outlets are suggesting that barca are on the verge of making a 40m stg take it or leave it offer for cesc and I am wondering if any of the fans who were opposed to the sale (like I was) would change their mind if barca did offer that ? It is great that barca have come out with the soundbites saying that they may have to wait until next summer to buy cesc and it's great that wenger has said that the matter is now closed but what about what cesc thinks ? If barca do indeed offer that much will cesc feel that it is a fair offer and that he should be allowed to leave and if he does feel that way will we have an unhappy player in the camp if we still refuse to sell (as is our right of course) ? I think if they did offer that amount to refuse it on the basis that it is an insulting bid is not realistic - either we accept if or we reject it on the basis that he is not for sale.
Personally unless cesc is 100% committed to us next season then I would sell him for that amount but of course I aint the manager.
I think that we will either take the offer now, or will give some sort of implicit guarantee to Barcelona that should Fabregas still want to join, then he will allowed to do so for the right price.
In the event that he stays, I think that he will be committed to playing for us in the very same way that he has so far.
What I am concerned about is post-Cesc planning. If the assumption is that Cesc will have left by next summer, I am concerned that it will just be another step in the Wenger project to replace Fabregas from within, and bank the cash (not to be seen again). he may want to hold out another year because he sees a development somewhere in terms of replacing Fabregas from within.
It appears to me to be very patchwork, and I can't say I am hopeful of trophies anytime soon.
QuartzGooner wrote:I honestly feel that Cesc's value is £45 - 50M rather than £40M, and that we should try to sell him this summer for £45M minimum.
I reckon the time to sell could well be now, because his World Cup Final assist and huge popularity in Spain are in evidence ...now.
Next year...who knows?
He might have an average season, given that he wants to leave and it takes a bit of an edge off his game, in the way that happened to Vieira after Real Madrid tried to sign him.
Cesc might (G-D forbid) get injured.
I do not want a cloud hanging over the club, and would like to see the team move forward with a captain who is as committed as possible.
The extra 40-50 million in the bank is good for the Board - *AHEM* - Club I mean....
augie wrote:Some of the media outlets are suggesting that barca are on the verge of making a 40m stg take it or leave it offer for cesc and I am wondering if any of the fans who were opposed to the sale (like I was) would change their mind if barca did offer that ? It is great that barca have come out with the soundbites saying that they may have to wait until next summer to buy cesc and it's great that wenger has said that the matter is now closed but what about what cesc thinks ? If barca do indeed offer that much will cesc feel that it is a fair offer and that he should be allowed to leave and if he does feel that way will we have an unhappy player in the camp if we still refuse to sell (as is our right of course) ? I think if they did offer that amount to refuse it on the basis that it is an insulting bid is not realistic - either we accept if or we reject it on the basis that he is not for sale.
Personally unless cesc is 100% committed to us next season then I would sell him for that amount but of course I aint the manager.
I think that we will either take the offer now, or will give some sort of implicit guarantee to Barcelona that should Fabregas still want to join, then he will allowed to do so for the right price.
In the event that he stays, I think that he will be committed to playing for us in the very same way that he has so far.
What I am concerned about is post-Cesc planning. If the assumption is that Cesc will have left by next summer, I am concerned that it will just be another step in the Wenger project to replace Fabregas from within, and bank the cash (not to be seen again). he may want to hold out another year because he sees a development somewhere in terms of replacing Fabregas from within.
It appears to me to be very patchwork, and I can't say I am hopeful of trophies anytime soon.
I suspect this is 100% the same set-up as with Henry. I cannot say that with 100% but I wouldn't bet a penny against Cesc going to Barca for inside 40 million next year right now. Even before all this swirled up the comments from Mr. Hill-Wood about Barca agreeing not to bid for him this year and that an agreement between the clubs to that effect had been reached had me feeling this way. Why would we even be having meetings with Barca about this?
augie wrote:Some of the media outlets are suggesting that barca are on the verge of making a 40m stg take it or leave it offer for cesc and I am wondering if any of the fans who were opposed to the sale (like I was) would change their mind if barca did offer that ? It is great that barca have come out with the soundbites saying that they may have to wait until next summer to buy cesc and it's great that wenger has said that the matter is now closed but what about what cesc thinks ? If barca do indeed offer that much will cesc feel that it is a fair offer and that he should be allowed to leave and if he does feel that way will we have an unhappy player in the camp if we still refuse to sell (as is our right of course) ? I think if they did offer that amount to refuse it on the basis that it is an insulting bid is not realistic - either we accept if or we reject it on the basis that he is not for sale.
Personally unless cesc is 100% committed to us next season then I would sell him for that amount but of course I aint the manager.
No is the answer to the first highlighted question!! And as for the second highlighted part: that's exactly what we've said to Barca, so as far as we're concerned that should be the end of matter.
I Hate Hleb wrote:Personally unless cesc is 100% committed to us next season then I would sell him for that amount but of course I aint the manager.
I wouldn't sell for £40m - not unless we were forced. Cesc is worth more than than to us (as to sell him only weeks before the season starts would almost certainly mean yet another transition period!) and as he's a fighter and an honest boy, I see no reason to doubt his integrity and I will continue to assume he'll give his all for the Arsenal until I've been given reason to think otherwise!
Last edited by g88ner on Sun Jul 18, 2010 7:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
augie wrote:Some of the media outlets are suggesting that barca are on the verge of making a 40m stg take it or leave it offer for cesc and I am wondering if any of the fans who were opposed to the sale (like I was) would change their mind if barca did offer that ? It is great that barca have come out with the soundbites saying that they may have to wait until next summer to buy cesc and it's great that wenger has said that the matter is now closed but what about what cesc thinks ? If barca do indeed offer that much will cesc feel that it is a fair offer and that he should be allowed to leave and if he does feel that way will we have an unhappy player in the camp if we still refuse to sell (as is our right of course) ? I think if they did offer that amount to refuse it on the basis that it is an insulting bid is not realistic - either we accept if or we reject it on the basis that he is not for sale.
Personally unless cesc is 100% committed to us next season then I would sell him for that amount but of course I aint the manager.
You make some very valid points but what if the money isn't re-invested. Unless that ahppens what would be the point? If we used to money for a genuine like for like replacement or even gave someone in the team (and no I don't mean Wilshere or Denilson - though it seems wrong to put them in the same sentence - even here )like Nasri or Rosicky or Diaby or even Arshavin a chance to take his role and invest in a number of other key roles, fine. But if we don't do that we've just should another star for below his value or the only benefit is to the Club's accounts and share price.
At least if we keep him if we ever actually see some of the promised increased investment in the team we might be able even to hold onto him after this year. Unlikely I agree, but better than just giving up and selling now knowing it won't go back in the team and it will only get harder to buy - and keep - players of similar quality.
Its a an awful choice really but its down to where there's life there's hope.
, that said if Cesc leads us to the same success then I will be happy. End of.
