Barcelona Pair Admit to Losing Out on Fabregas
Barcelona have confirmed making two offers for Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas during the summer, both of which were rejected. The club is now scouting the market for other signings.
Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola spoke with the press on Sunday after his side defeated Beijing Guoan 3–1 in the Chinese capital.
Characteristically calm, Guardiola said that he understood and respected Arsenal's decision not to listen to any offers for their captain.
"I understand Arsenal and I understand [Arsenal manager Arsene] Wenger, I wouldn't have let [Fabregas] leave either," he said.
"I just hope Cesc carries on enjoying what is such a special and competitive league, the Premier."
Barca Vice-President: Fabregas Wanted Move
Meanwhile, Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu was more openly irritated over the affair, saying that Fabregas' own will was to return to his former club.
"We made two offers [for Fabregas] - one in June and another at the beginning of August - but Arsenal didn't want to sell him and they didn't accept our offers," El Mundo Deportivo quoted Bartomeu as saying.
"We made a reasonable offer, a common sense amount, but they just said 'no'. There was no mention of a counter offer. If Arsenal had wanted to sell, Cesc was more than willing."
The midfielder is said to have promised Wenger to stay at the club for another season before declaring his loyalty to Arsenal last Friday.
It is therefore thought that neither Fabregas himself nor the Spanish club have ruled out the possibility of a deal materializing next summer.
Barcelona Still Scouting
Both Guardiola and Bartomeu admitted that the club is now considering making other additions to the squad before the start of the season.
While admitting that "there's no hurry" as the transfer window does not close until August 31, Guardiola confirmed that club is actively following developments in the market.
Bortomeu said that Victor Sanchez, Martin Caceres and Alexander Hleb, who joined Barcelona from Arsenal in 2008, will leave the club before the the start of the new season, probably on loan deals.
Barcelona begin their Spanish league campaign away to Racing Santander on August 29.
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