Why Cesc Should Stay

By Football FanCast | 1st May 2009

Football FanCast columnist ‘The New Voice of Football’ fully expects Cesc Fabregas returns to his beloved Barca, but doesn’t feel that now is the right time.

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will not leave the Emirates Stadium for the Nou Camp this summer. Although the midfielder has stated a desire to one-day rejoin the Catalan side, he left as a 16-year-old.

Barcelona, have made no secret of the fact that they would like to see the one that got away, back in a Blaugrana shirt in the future, but they won’t make a swoop for the Gunners skipper in the close season. Unless that is, something changes at the Nou Camp.

What would have to change to turn speculation into a firm offer of around £40million for Fabregas? Barca, would have to lose either Xavi or Andres Iniesta, the heart of their midfield for years. Because, while those two are still strutting their stuff at the Nou Camp, any move for Fabregas does simply not make sense for both parties.

Fabregas is too good to be at a club, even Barca, where he would not automatically be first choice and the Blaugrana certainly don’t need a player right now, who if he arrived would become the world’s most expensive substitute. I’m not saying Fabregas is not good enough, but Iniesta and Xavi, have been playing together at Barcelona since 2002 and both listed in the top 10 for FIFA World Player of the Year in 2008.

Having both arrived as boys, coming through all levels of the Barcelona system, youth, reserves and then first team. Iniesta and Xavi are a boat, coach Pep Guardiola, has no need to rock at this point in time, with Barca seemingly about to wrench the Spanish title back from bitter rivals Real Madrid. These are two players like their coach also a former Barca midfielder that came through the system, who are Blaugrana through and through.

Indeed, Iniesta and Xavi kept Fabregas out of the victorious Spanish side in the early stages of EURO 2008, with only injury giving Fabregas a starting berth in the semi-final and final, which he thoroughly deserved anyway after the 21-year-old had starred as a substitute, when called upon.

Iniesta is still only 24, with some reports suggesting that Manchester City are considering a big-money bid for the Spaniard in the summer, but the midfielder is unlikely to leave the Nou Camp for the Eastlands after 13-years, especially with things on the up for Barca at the moment.

Xavi, has just extended his contract at the Catalan club until 2014 after much speculation that he might leave Barca. However, at 29, in a couple of years time, Barca will surely be starting to look at a long-term successor to Xavi, who currently has the second highest number of appearances ever in a Barcelona shirt.

This is when a move back to Barcelona could make sense to both parties, for while the Spanish club have a tradition of blooding from within. Barcelona, are also not afraid to shell out for a piece they feel will complete the jigsaw. Fabregas is already felt to fit this jigsaw at the Nou Camp, having been brought up like Guardiola and Xavi before him in the Barca way, before carving a name out for himself at Arsenal under the guidance of Arsene Wenger.

Los Blancos have also been repeatedly linked with Fabregas, but given the Spaniard’s allegiances with Barca, Tottenham would be just as likely as the midfielder’s next destination. Should the Gunners fail to win a trophy in the next two seasons or continue to fall so short in the Premier League as they have this year. The likelihood of Fabregas leaving the Emirates to replace an ageing Xavi increases even more. Because for all Arsenal’s skills and wonderful football at times, one FA Cup Winners medal is the only major domestic honour that hangs in trophy cabinet of the Fabregas household from his time in North London.

Around the summer of 2011, maybe a year later is the time when Fabregas will feel that it is right to go home to the City, where he was born. Knowing it is his turn and that he is wanted to take centre stage at the Nou Camp, something he must have always dreamed of growing up. Confident in the knowledge that he gave a lot of good years to Arsene Wenger’s side and leave for the only club in the world that could lure him from the Emirates.

Barcelona will happily shell out £40million maybe 50, because they will have to think about replacing Xavi. It will feel like a lot maybe for a player that seemed to slip through the normally tight net at the Barca Academy, but Fabregas will be that piece of the jigsaw they seek. For of all the players that might be available, when the Blaugrana begin the search. None would fit the profile of exactly what Barcelona are looking for, as much as Fabregas does now and undoubtedly still will, when they finally come calling with money and not words.

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