|
|
 |
|
When is a deal not a deal? When it's done in Spain, that's when. Especially around election time. After all, why make a quick 'smash and grab' transfer when it can be drawn out into a Madrid-centric version of The Archers?
Not to be outdone by Real Madrid in their pursuit and 'capture' of Racing Santander's Sergio Canales, Barça -or rather someone with a position on the board within the club - claimed that the signing of Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal will go ahead this summer. There is also an election for the Club President post coming up, so if anyone out there would like to join the dots...
Part of the blame for the situation lies with the Spanish press, who are not afraid to print rumours as facts in an attempt to stay one step ahead of the game in a country where there are four major daily newspapers dedicated entirely to sport. The suits also oblige with bold election promises to their favourite journalists. As King Eric said, "when the seagulls follow the trawler..."
Thus we have Presidents getting into power on the back of deals that they never get through (Fabregas to Real Madrid and the delayed transfer of Arjen Robben put the nails in the coffin of Madrid head Ramon Calderon, whilst Joan Laporta promised Beckham to Barça) and the journalists keen to be play their own game of Championship Manager 00/01 on cheat mode. So watch out for the following situation following Alfons Godall's stating his admiration for the Arsenal player:
1) Godall says he likes Fabregas. This goes in the headline.
2) Godall says that he doesn't know if the signing is possible. This goes in smaller print two days later.
3) Press dine out on the speculation not just over the transfer window, but perhaps for entire years à la the Ruud van Nistlerooy to Madrid situation.
The really interesting part of this though is how angry it will make a certain Mr. Wenger. Just a fortnight ago he revealed that he had written to Spain's big two with a kind request to not unsettle his players. And he is not one to forgive and forget, if his persistent non-handshaking is anything to go by.
Should a deal go through, however, it could have big repercussions for Barça's lineup and for Fabregas' career. He is a player who has thrived on being the star of the show, and his emergence came at the time that established names had been sold off. He would be compared to Messi et al on a weekly basis, with rewards that would not completely outweigh the negative side of the situation. It would also surely lead to the departure of Thierry Henry (reportedly MLS-bound) and more than likely Bojan Krikic in a lineup that runs the risk of becoming unbalanced.
Madrid may have been more successful in the past with their star signings via the press, or alternatively worse at keeping done deals out of the papers. However, when it comes to boasting about Cesc, nobody is immune when trying to impress.
Comments
 |
Posted by David on 02/04/2010
Good Day, Are you a Barcelona fan? Or just somebody assigned to follow the team, just curious.
As for Cesc. Henry's foot is halfway out the door as it is. For Cesc to come Bojan will not start. Iniesta Zlatan Messi will be the front trio with Fabregas Busquets and Xavi being the midfield trio but it will also allow Xavi and Iniesta to be given more of a rest.
Cesc will be constantly compared with Messi? Not really Messi is a right sided attacker Cesc is a CM. Not really seeing where the comparison comes in. Messi Cesc and Pique are all part of the class of 87 so they have been accustomed playing in the same team since they were young so it wont be a problem.
Also Cesc plays with Torres Villa Xavi Iniesta Silva Puyol Pique Sergio Ramos and Casillas in the Spanish national team setup. I think if he manages to get by there he will be fine in Barcelona.
As for Wenger, he asks us not to talk about players and then says Chris Smalling could have a furture at Arsenal. Hypocrite
|
Posted by Charade on 02/04/2010
Of course he would be compared to other Barca players. Cesc is brilliant, but a transition to Barca wouldn't be very good for him. He thrives at Arsenal because the team is built around him. If he moved to Barca, he would be good, yes, but not as good.
And Wenger mentioned Smalling because the transfer was all but done; the player is moving to United ANYWAY. Cesc is not moving to Barca anytime soon.
What it is is Barca greed. They want their fingers in every pie. It's true of every team; Real Madrid, Chelsea, Man Utd, AC Milan, etc. (well, all except Arseanl, and that problem is only getting worse).
|
Posted by ayo jebutu on 02/04/2010
I strongly believe this is the wrong time to discuss such issues.it is so unfair to the player cos i believe such news will make him unsettle.lets support him and see how far HE Will go this seaSON.HE Is a world best in waiting.thanks alot.
|
Posted by Barcaforlife on 02/04/2010
Cesc to Barcelona, I certainly hope not. After the slap in the face he gave us for packing up and leaving why the hell would I want him back in the Barca line-up. Why would any true-blue barca fan, who should be proud of our youth setup, ever wish a traitor who left on the cheap to be brought back at an exorbitant fee(because that will certainly be the cost).
I wish him all the best at Arsenal, but if he Barcelona ever spends a penny on Cesc, they can consider me a fan no more.
|
Posted by David on 02/05/2010
Just 2 quick comments for Charade and Barca4life
Charade
1) Is Cesc the centre of attention for Spain? How does he play with that team?
2) Barca want their finger in every pie, what about Arsenal poaching several young players without compensation from their clubs. Is that also disgusting?
and Barcaforlife
Its funny that you say consider you a fan no more when your name is Barcaforlife. Is Pique also a traitor? Why didnt you stop supporting when we bought him back? He left for free as well. What is the difference? Did u cheer when pique scored the 6 in the 6-2 in Madrid? Or did you yell at your screen and show your middle finger to the traitor?
|
Posted by Jurido on 02/05/2010
thank you David, i could not have put it any better.
@Barcaforlife - its funny that you say such things and your name claims you to be a barca fan until the day you die.
as an arsenal fan i would be devastated to see Cesc leave but this may be a reality. a player of his caliber must be winning things and unfortunately Arsenal have not been doing this for the last 5 years. if we continue like this he will leave and i dont think we can blame him.
|
Posted by tuhin on 02/05/2010
|
Posted by tuhin on 02/05/2010
What matters is what sort of a position will fabregas play in barca. I don't think barcelona need him with players like assulin coming up.
|
Posted by David on 02/05/2010
Great point tuhin, the question that really needs to be asked is what about the young players we have.
Gai Assulin LW, Jeffren LW, Thiago, CM, Jonathan dos Santos CM and Sergi Roberto CM are the players that would be most affected by this move. The question we need to ask ourselves is how good any of these players are going to be and how soon will they be ready. None of those are completely ready to start in my opinion and need at least another 3 years or at most another 5 before they are completely ready. In that time Iniesta will be 28, Xavi will be 33 and Cesc will be 25 at which point Keita will most likely be gone freeing up another CM spot and one of the youngsters will most likely be pushing Xavi for his spot. By this time Cesc will be taking over from Xavi in our midfield and Iniesta can drop back to midfield freeing up a front space possibly for gai or one of our other promissing youngsters like Deulofeu, Etock or Rochina.
|
Posted by Brick on 02/05/2010
I would like to start this comment by saying that I am a huge Ronaldo(CR9) fan. He is the very best entertainer there ever was in the futbol world. And possibily the best goal scorer ever. But Cesc Fabregas is one amazing talent. He could easily fit into Barca's scheme. Cesc would shine next to Xavi pushing forward Messi and Zlatan.
I used to be a United fan. But last year when they let Ronaldo and Tevez go I switched my favorites to Arsenal and Real.
I hope Real win La Liga and I truly belive Arsenal would have won the EPL this year if Van Persie wouldn't have gone down.
I am more of a fan to great players and entertainers rather than one club.
World Cup. Hurry up and get here June.
|
Posted by samson on 02/05/2010
to be honest, i cant see see cesc breaking into d barca team. the barca team already picks itself out. the midfield trio, xavi, iniesta and keita/busquet. while upfront sees ibrahimovic being flanked by messi and pedro if henry eventually leaves. i suggest faabregas stays put at arsenal.
|
Posted by Catalan_Giant on 02/05/2010
Hello sporting world.
Cesc left barca for one reason and one reason only to play which at the time he would not have gotten that opportunity with barca under Frank. However, knowing the calibre of player he is the moment pep signed on he wanted him. I think of Cesc not as a traitor but as someone who went out and got the experience he needed and he will be back home soon to replace xavi who is 28 years old and on the way out in a few years that is what I think. So hurry back home Cesc.
|
Posted by Barcelona22 on 02/05/2010
I agree with a lot of you saying that with Cesc coming back to the Barca line up, it would disrupt the younger talents from being able to break through. Obviously we want Cesc back cause he could be a real help with Henry most likely leaving, which would mean Iniesta could be moved up to flank Ibrahimovic on the left, and bring Cesc into cm in his place, allowing Busquets and Xavi to remain where they are. If he did come to Barca, it would give the young guns a chance to grow and mature before being in the 1st team replacing whoever ... and that woud be the best way of doing it. Jeffren, Pedro and Bojan can battle it out for the LW position, Assulin, Sergio Roberto and Thiago can go for the CM position which gives more motivation, and Pep would most likely gradually get them in so they can get used to 1st team football for when they are ready
Barcelona for La Liga
|
Posted by Cesc2013 on 02/05/2010
I agree with Barcaforlife on this one actually. Barcelona certainly shouldn't pay Eur40m+ for a player who they trained in the youth system who then left them for better things when it suited him. Agree that Pique did something similar, but there is a quantitative difference (about Eur36m in cost...). Also it send a poor message to any youthplayers Barcelona wants to keep, but who are tempted elsewhere. "Leave us after everything we've done, we'll sign you back if you succeed"....
However, if Cesc wants to come back on a free (or for a low fee) when his Arsenal contract expires, why not. I actually think that the presidential candidate that stands up and says "We won't sign Cesc on big money out of principle, but he is welcome when his contract runs out" Will win a lot of votes from out, for being sensible, and showing that loyalty matters. Also, I believe that Cesc's and Xavi's contracts expire around the same time... 2013 is it? Would make a good changing of the guard.
|
Posted by Henry on 02/05/2010
Hello All,
A couple weeks ago I was hoping that Barca would sign Fabregas, but then i realised we have such quality left in our youth system and youngsters. Dos Santos, Thiago, Assulin to name a few. With these players in our squad I don't think we require Fabregas yet. Henry will most likely leave, which leaves his spot up front on the left filled by Pedro or even Iniesta. I think we'll be fine without Fabregas.
|
Posted by guatty on 02/05/2010
Cesc would not be close to the player he is now if he'd had stayed on at Barcelona instead of moving to Arsenal like he did. Arsenal is built around him, everything good and creative they do comes through his feet. Had he had stayed on at Barcelona he would still be struggling to get first team action as his role as a distributor/creator is already maximized by the likes of Xavi, Iniesta and Messi, while the other midfield option is a defensive one and is taken up by Keita, Troure, and Busquets, who all perform the job admirably. If Cesc wants silverware now then yes he should move to another club. His contribution would lessen but he would have the silverware craves and deserves. However, I believe that Wenger is one of the greatest coaches in the game and has far more experience then the bulk of the media is giving him right now. If Cesc can be patient, if the Arsenal fans can be patient, then in two or three years they will undoubtedly be among the top 3 clubs in the world.
|
Posted by guatty on 02/05/2010
And, I believe they could do this without Cesc... If Arsene does let him go I'm afraid he will regret it, just like Viera did when he moved to Juventus and lost in the CL to Arsenal, or Pires who lost to Arsenal while at Villareal. The only way I believe Cesc will reach his fullest potential is by staying at Arsenal.
About buying him when he was young: Barcelona's academy is fantastic and the spanish system and spanish young players are a heck of a lot better then the english system and english young players. This is why Wenger needs to buy. The only English player that has ever made it all the way through Arsenal's academy is Jack Wilshire, and that kid is something special (saw him play live at this years Emirates Cup). Besides him though, Arsenal need to buy foreign youngsters in order to compete with the best. Sad but true...
|
Posted by Philip on 02/05/2010
All Barca presidential candidates are hypocrites. They make big promises before elections which they know too well can't be fulfilled. By the way why the craze about Cesc - because he came through the Barca academy or because he is one of the best in the game? Well, let me remind those who will tell me that he has Barca DNA and blood in his veins: Arteta and Geovani Dos Santos also came through Barca academy,so why not one or both of them.And who said all the players that pass through the academy must play in the senior team? Perhaps Zlatan, Toure,Keita,Heny,Etoo' etc all passed through the academy.Don't be deceived, Barca will surely buy players trained by others; same way others too will buy players trained by Barca.Fab is good, Arsenal/Wenger made him so. It doesn't really matter whether he was born in Madrid, Milan or Munich. When the time comes to loose Fab, we will be ready; let Barca too be ready to loose some of their best and stop making noise about Cesc-he's an Arsenal player
|
Posted by David on 02/05/2010
Philip have you ever watched an election? Would Obama go to the people and say " I would not do anything for you?" The candidates all have to promise something that people will dream about. Barcelona buy players, of course we do. But when you look at the players that have come through our youth system aged 15 or younger. Reina, Valdes, Pique, Muniesa, Messi, Bojan, Cesc, Xavi, Iniesta, Arteta, Gai Assulin, Thiago, Gio dos Santos and Jonathan dos Santos its quite an impressive number. I dont think any other top team in europe can boast of so many. Certainly not Arsenal who buy most of their players aged 16 or 17.
|
Posted by Emeka on 02/05/2010
Cesc will stay at Arsenal and Arsenal will win the premier league and champions league to quench all this speculation about Cesc leaving.
|
Posted by Cyril on 02/05/2010
I do not care where Cesc goes to. One thing i know is that Real will win la liga. Real 4life.
|
Posted by Buchi on 02/05/2010
Cesc Fabregas will make a mistake if he leaves Arsenal for Barca. Ask Alexander Hleb. Henry went to Barca and became a part player. At Arsenal, Cesc is the cynosure and I keep being shocked at some comments that he was trained by Barca. Not at all,, he was tutored by Wenger and thats the fact. If he will leave, he will leave but all these "presidents" should stop unsettling the lad and get on with their elections. Mind you, Arsenal winning the EPL and CL this season will not guarantee him staying as he may feel like,, Ok I have done it,, I need to move and if they do not win anything, he can still go. So please let him be this season to see Arsenal through the end and whatever that follows then follows.
|
Posted by duduLagos on 02/05/2010
I believe most of the Barca fans are missing an obvious fact which is that Barca is not the only club in Spain that Cesc might move to. Think Real Madrid. I hope you will not feel the pain when he moves to Madrid and scores crucial goals against Barca. I believe Barca's best bet is to buy back the chap if he is available next season..
|
Posted by David on 02/06/2010
The last comment is laughable especially given Cesc's statments today that he has always worn blaugrana colours
|
Posted by k%d!@ on 02/06/2010
LOL,reading these comments make me laugh.First of all cesc will never wear madrid colours.2,wegner never would have gotten cesc if he wasn't such a great prospect. Didn't anyone read his comments when he said cesc came from A GREAT SCHOOL?Why did u think he said so..duh because it's true duh..he was trained by barca till he was 16,by that time wegner saw a good footballer that with time would be a great footballer & once a blaugrana always a blaugrana & why won't cesc fit in to a team he was brought up in?Barca youth system trains there young players the same way the first teams plays.Germany's coach watched the U17's play the first team & he couldn't tell the difference between them,so any barca youth player can shine in the first team even if he leaves & comes back
|
Posted by Idy on 02/06/2010
barcelona is one team that many prospective best players would emanate from.the team has a way of shooting out the very best out of a dedicated player to becoming the 'world's number 1'.so, cesc fabrigas need to be in a team like barcelona were he can at the end of the day,rip the fruit of his labour rather than playing for nothing.
|
Posted by Sic on 02/07/2010
Some strange comments here. Of course Barca doesn't need Cesc, they won 6 titles in one year without him. But the thing is, the club wants Cesc, because like it or not he does have Barca DNA. Not only did he train with the team until he was poached by Wenger at 16, but he is also a Catalan who was brought up as a culé. Now that may not mean much to EPL fans who no nothing about Spanish history, but I can assure you one thing: he will never play for Real Madrid (lol, he would be disowned by his own family!). I would prefer that Barca spend money on a LW rather than on Cesc, but with the elections and all the prodigal son will return. By the way, the comments Cesc made on Cataluña Radio seem to give credence to the rumors of his imminent return....home.
|
Posted by Obiden1konobe on 02/07/2010
Does anyone noticed that Barca is scoring les this year than last? I think the think they need is a strong left wing for when Henry leaves. for all the criticism he gets, he was a big part of their scoring last year. this year injuries has affected him. I also don't think that Zaltan is going to be a great addition. He is too slow. That second cup game against Sevilla he threw it away because he was standing around, too slow to react, and he also doesn't play with any passion.
As for Iniesta, he is great but he needs to play up the middle, he is not the answer on the left wing. He runs at teh defense with the ball, he is not suited to make crosses into the box.
Cesc would be a great addition to team in the CM with Xavi, but that would overload the holding mid field where you already can't find room for Yaya who I think is better than Sergio.
He plugs up the middle behind Xavi very well.
Keita can be used on the left wing going forward and tracking back. This is something that E'to
|
Posted by jamo on 02/07/2010
I care less abt all this Fabregas fuss!!! All I want is for Arsene Wenger to buy an out and out striker!!!!! I think thts all Arsenal is missing w/o VAn Persie!!! Those days we had Henry, Bergkamp, Wiltord, Kanu, etc...guys who could replce eachother w/o noticing the others abscence...but now whnePersie is sick...who is there??? Oh God dnt tell mi Eduardo!!! Go on Wenger buy David Villa and we need a guy who can head that ball in the opponents box.....a fighter...maybe the English style typical of Emile Heskey!!!! Such a guy needs no skill but fight....he leaves the Fabregas, Arshavin, Rosicky, Nasri to do the skillful work and he just fights and scores...thts all I need!!!! And I think the purchase of David Villa will make Fantastic Fab stay put!!!! Henry is also welcome back!!! Hihihi
|
Posted by Billy D on 02/07/2010
First of all, I think how Cesc feels about staying with Arsenal is going to rely on the World Cup coming up. A Barca kid with all his countrymen is not going to like coming back and be playing for a club that has Arshavin as their main striker! Sooner or later Cesc is going to realize that if Arsenal is mainly concerned about balancing the books then they can do it on someone else's time. How the hell are you planning on competing for trophies without a striker.
Secondly, a couple of good performances in South Africa in front of a nationwide audience will book his flight to Barca. If Cesc wants to go to Barca then he will go. Arsenal is not going to stop him and Barca will pay.
|
Posted by tom on 02/08/2010
I believe that Cesc is a world class player and could thrive in every environment. However, I dont believe Barca need him. Fabregas has a style very similar to his spanish countryman iniesta and xavi, and while this would allow him the team to gel nicely, i think it is better to have two creative playmakers in the midfield triangle and physical defensive presence in keita or preferably yaya toure. and should henry leave, pedro or bojan will be well suited to eventually fill his role even if they dont reach the heights of his accomplishments. Cesc should stay at Arsenal and hope for wenger to be given more transfer funds and young players to mature
|
Posted by KENYAN MADRIDISTA on 02/08/2010
Cesc will never fulfill his potential if he goes to barca,look at the barca line up i dont think he fits in anywhere,barca pride themselves in their youth system n i think there are more players better for barca than cesc.
On the other hand he wud fit perfectly in Madrid where pellegrinis rotation system ensures everyone plays and no one wud have to move if he came in.I think Cesc wud be better off in the caoital.HALA MADRID!!!
|
Posted by the_spaniard on 02/08/2010
First off Barca doesn't need anymore mid-fielders, the players we have there at the moment get the job done better the any other mid-field in the world. Bringing in cesc would cloud it up, i dont know if anyone remembers this, but xavi won best mid in the WORLD for a reason, b/c he is! Would i like to see cesc in a barca uniform,YES, but now, NO! The timing is wrong, what we need to do more then anything is get rid of herny, he's washed up, and sticks out like Black guy in japan!! He just doesn't fit in our system, it's horribly noticeable. now a guy like ribery does a lot better! I hope barca grab the opportunity to get him by the horns! Unfortunately this is election year, and with it brings unnecessary rumors and distraction to our club. If cesc wants to come to barca he will come, no need to push him, he's already stated that growing up it was his Biggest dream, so every relax!! Lets focus on whats really important, Winning more trophy's, and proving to madrid you cant buy La Liga!
|
Posted by Ak on 02/08/2010
No doubt Cesc isnt going anywhere, for one he is committed to Arsene Wenger's cause of bring young talents up, cause dats how he came through.secondly Arsene Wenger has admitted he's going to sign Chamakh and a few other players in the summer so BARCA backoff you let him go now DEAL WITH IT and stop causing unneccesary confusion 2 our dear player GUNNER 4 LIFE. Sail On with Arsenal Fabregas
|
Posted by Matt on 02/09/2010
It will all depend on Wenger. Will he swallow his pride and sign Fabregas to a large, long term contract? Will he keep a team together or keep shuffling players past their mid-20s out the door? If Arsenal wants to keep Fabregas, Wenger will have to stop being so stubborn with his philosophy. If Arsenal come up trophy-less this year he might just have to admit defeat and spend some cash.
|
Posted by Waza on 02/09/2010
Cesc is going anyway. Arsenal have nobody upfront and Cesc wants to win trophies.
Arsenal will become a mid-table team in the future. But it will all depend on which billionaire Arenal end up with!!
|
Posted by INEMESIT FRANCIS on 02/09/2010
I`m Arsenal fans n i love d club if i leave Arsenal is Barca. so if we fail to pick a trophy dis season Fabregas may go Barca. my contribution to Arsenal as a fans is dat Arsene Wenger should spend dis money is 4 good not bad,we need to buy 3 OR 4 players 4 things to go well.d likes of DAVID VILLA,CHAMAKH,OSAZE ODEWINGE,AGUERO.I strongly beleived n i know dat if we buy this players especially OSAZE ODEWINGE FROM NIGERIA.with this listed players Arsenal can win many trophy hence.
|
Posted by Humphrey Sinkala on 02/09/2010
Wenger lacks vision that is why Arsenal team can not win anything, season in season wonder Fabregas is leaving because he has seen no future at Arsenal.logicall, what is the point of boasting about profits made by the team when they can not afford good palyers.If any thing, Arsene should have trying to buy players this time around when big spenders have not entered the market for players.Good luck Cesc you have been a good player under a coach who just talks too much.
Posted by sailendra on 03/03/2010
i'm a gunner and i'm a cule.......... lucky that both clubs are in different leagues.As far as the debate abt cesc, well he should stay at Arsenal cos they need him more than Barca. Barca ll do well without him anyway. Arsenal need to buy someone like Yaya toure,a strong holding midfielde.A wordclass goalkeeper and a striker, thats all arsenal need and they ll win erverything.
| |
Post your comment |
|
|
|
|
|
About
Hola! I am Francesc Tomas. Barcelona is my passion and home-town team. I consider myself lucky to have regularly attended matches at the Camp Nou since the early 1980s. My cousin played for the Barça youth academy, sharing the team with Don Andres Iniesta, which gave me a clear inside view of how our club works behind the scenes. I am also the founder, editor and columnist at Barcablog.com.
|
Categories
Recent Posts
Archives
|
RSS feed