It seems every summer there is a protracted transfer saga that drags out, takes up everyone’s time and attention and inevitably eventually comes to fruition.
This summer Barcelona have shamelessly hounded Cesc Fabregas into a return to the Nou Camp. As well as the club itself, a number of players have given their opinion to the media including Xavi, Iniesta and Messi, declaring that Fabregas should join Barcelona, Fabregas wants to join Barcelona and quite cheekily telling Arsenal that their player is only on loan to them until he finally does rejoin the Catalan team.
The cheek of Gerard Pique and Carlos Puyol forced him into Barca top and former Barcelona player and current Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina declaring that Fabregas is the future of Barcelona, smacks of disrespect not only to Fabregas himself but also Arsenal.
For two years we were in the same position as we sat and watched Real Madrid and the various facets of the club attempt ad ultimately succeed in turning his head. These figures included Florentino Perez (who at the time wasn’t actually involved with the club at the time) as well as defender Pepe who claimed Ronaldo told him that he wanted to join the Madrid club and the footballing face of the club, Raul.
Ronaldo had wanted to join Madrid the season before and we were able to keep a hold of him for one more season before the inevitable happened and he left the club. It was reported that Ronaldo had ignored phone calls from Sir Alex and only when he spoke to the Portuguese player face to face that he was able to keep the player at the club albeit for one more season.
Luckily Fabregas hasn’t gone down that route and it’s commendable considering the fact that it is his boyhood club and so much pressure has been put on him from external forces. Having seen United in a similar position to Arsenal, I would hope Arsenal can make Fabregas remain at the club, and they resist Barcelona’s advances.
In footballing terms Barcelona are a wonderful club but off field this episode will really tarnish the clubs reputation. As big rivals as they are, Barcelona and Real Madrid appear to be more alike than either would care to admit.
