Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas protracted move to Barcelona
Cesc Fabregas was forced into a dramatic U-turn on Friday as his protracted transfer back to boyhood club Barcelona spluttered to its conclusion.
Told on Friday morning that a £35million deal had finally been agreed, Fabregas was on his way to Heathrow with a view to catching a flight to Spain when he received a phone call from Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola asking him to turn around.
Guardiola remains delighted at Fabregas’s imminent signing but was unhappy that on the eve of the team’s first important match of the season - Sunday’s Spanish Super Cup first leg in Madrid - the midfielder’s movements were overshadowing preparations.
Fabgregas had said goodbye to Arsenal team-mates and texted friends and family in Barcelona. It was not long before Barca players Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol were tweeting welcome home messages and Catalan media were briefed by those close to the player that he would be in the city on Friday afternoon for a medical before a possible presentation on Saturday.
His inclusion in Sunday’s Super Cup first leg was also mooted but Guardiola, who has been silently simmering all summer as Barcelona’s exhausting pre-season tour has thrown up a series of unconvincing performances, while the club have failed to land his number one midfield target, had had enough.
The call was made to Fabregas suggesting he delay his arrival in Spain until Sunday. It is understood Arsenal were also unhappy at what they saw as Barcelona claiming the deal was done when some details were still to be agreed on.
Cesc Fabregas was forced into a dramatic U-turn on Friday as his protracted transfer back to boyhood club Barcelona spluttered to its conclusion.
Told on Friday morning that a £35million deal had finally been agreed, Fabregas was on his way to Heathrow with a view to catching a flight to Spain when he received a phone call from Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola asking him to turn around.
Guardiola remains delighted at Fabregas’s imminent signing but was unhappy that on the eve of the team’s first important match of the season - Sunday’s Spanish Super Cup first leg in Madrid - the midfielder’s movements were overshadowing preparations.
Fabgregas had said goodbye to Arsenal team-mates and texted friends and family in Barcelona. It was not long before Barca players Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol were tweeting welcome home messages and Catalan media were briefed by those close to the player that he would be in the city on Friday afternoon for a medical before a possible presentation on Saturday.
His inclusion in Sunday’s Super Cup first leg was also mooted but Guardiola, who has been silently simmering all summer as Barcelona’s exhausting pre-season tour has thrown up a series of unconvincing performances, while the club have failed to land his number one midfield target, had had enough.
The call was made to Fabregas suggesting he delay his arrival in Spain until Sunday. It is understood Arsenal were also unhappy at what they saw as Barcelona claiming the deal was done when some details were still to be agreed on.