Pep Guardiola claims Barcelona are in negotiations with Arsenal to sign Cesc Fabregas

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola claims the Catalan club are in negotiations to sign Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.

Fabregas is a long-time target for Barca and claimed earlier this summer it would be a dream to play for the club where he began his career.

Barca are back in pre-season training and have yet to make any signings, and while Guardiola admitted that Chile forward Alexis Sanchez is his priority, he also revealed the club are in talks to sign Fabregas.

"It is scary the amount of games we have to play," he said at a press conference on Tuesday.

"Last year we were interested in Cesc but Arsenal didn't place him on the market. This year they have agreed to negotiate and that's what we're doing. Market prices are what they are but we hope in the end that everything will be sorted out - we have until Augist 31 to sign him."

Barcelona announced earlier this summer that they would only have around €45 million to spend in the current window, but president Sandro Rosell later clarified that the Catalan club could use some of next year's budget to sign players.

"There is some money in a box (set aside) for this player and we will try until the last day to bring Cesc because he will make our squad better," Guardiola said.

Fabregas was recently encouraged to force an exit from the Gunners by Barcelona right-back Dani Alves, but Guardiola believes the 24-year-old must be respectful to Arsenal as he sets his sights on a dream Camp Nou switch.

"I think Cesc has to do what Arsenal ask him. I wouldn't like it if a player from this institution stood up and said 'I am not going to train any more because I want to leave'," he said.

"When he is fit, (Arsene) Wenger will play him. He has spoken to his coach and his club and if he has the possibility to leave, he would like to come to Barca."

Guardiola also ruled out a summer move for midfielder Thiago Alcantara, even if Fabregas joins the Catalan club.

Some reports had suggested the Spain Under-21 star could be sold, but the player recently signed a new long-term contract and his release clause was raised from €10 million to €50m.

"One doesn't have anything to do with the other," the Barca coach said when asked about Cesc and Thiago.

"Thiago has endless personality. He is a very daring boy with a lot of talent, but he has a lot of [first-team] competition.

"He has a very big future and we will try to give him the minutes (he needs) for his potential to explode. Now he is worth a lot of money."

Even though his side are in talks to sign Fabregas, Guardiola claimed the capture of Chile winger is likely to happen first.

"The forward is our priority," he said.

However, the probable arrival of the Udinese star will have no bearing on the club's move for Cesc.

"Zubi [sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta] has told me there is money to sign them both," the Barca coach revealed.

And the former goalkeeper confirmed a deal for the South American was close, saying: "The transfer [for Sanchez] is nearing its end."

Interesting what he said about Thiago, i hope he keeps to his word oh yh......

Pep is humble and respectful

Feel bad for Afellay if we're really in for Cesc. Still got spots for forward roles, but damn.

Had hopes for Ibi

Andres Iniesta wrote:Feel bad for Afellay if we're really in for Cesc. Still got spots for forward roles, but damn.

Had hopes for Ibi

Affelay is a forward for Barca anyway, this wont effect him. He is going to fight Pedro for a place in the first team like always.

It was Thiago i always worried about.

This will probably culminate in a unsatisfactory bid from Barcelona. For everyone's sake, Arsenal should set a deadline for a bid so this doesn't drag on for the rest of the summer.

I still find it it odd though that for all the praise Thiago is getting, Barcelona still want to further limit what little first team opportunities he had by signing Fabregas, who's only three or four years older than Thiago is.

you should be happy mole, quite a sick team with great depth. it's gonna be a fun season.

St_Nick09_of_Goal wrote:you should be happy mole, quite a sick team with great depth. it's gonna be a fun season.

Yeah it's going to be tough holding off the challenge of Malaga :king:

Spoiler:

Pep is good at organizing rotation no? he isnt as obsessed as mourinho with a large squad, but we are fans of teams that want to win the treble every season, so you will have at least 4 to 5 players on the bench that have the potential to be starter. your youth will make up the reserve.

Given how Pep praised Thiago, he'll be around alot this season.

OR ELSE.

Here's to hoping that Arsenal reject all bids

please offer less then 40m. We will reject it for sure


win win for everyone

Haven't you heard? He's been kidnapped. Well, the ransom is held at:



100 billion dollars!

RealGunner wrote:please offer less then 40m. We will reject it for sure


win win for everyone

It's not really tho is it?

It mean's the saga continues which is not good, Fabregas telling to Pep to GTFO and staying at Arsenal and promptly signing a new contract with a clause in it which state's Barcelona cant sign him for 999 million pounds is a win win for everyone.

Wenger: "ok let us negotiate. Start at 50 million and work our way down"

Lex wrote:Wenger: "ok let us negotiate. Start at 50 million and work our way down"

wenger- "i can't go any lower than 49.99 mil"

Also hidden in that wall of text is that the Sanchez deal is close to being finalized. Bravo Udinese.

The guy wants to win some sort of title. Barca has a 50-50 chance of winning La Liga again. Those are much better odds that Arsenal will win the EPL. In fact, next year, they will struggle to get 4th with Tottenham not in the CL.

theaguia wrote:

Lex wrote:Wenger: "ok let us negotiate. Start at 50 million and work our way down"

wenger- "i can't go any lower than 49.99 mil"

Wenger:Ok fine 49.98 mil

wigglesworth wrote:Barca has a 50-50 chance of winning La Liga again

Agreed. Such an uncompetitive league

Hey, you said it, not me

Over the past 5 years in La Liga there have been 2 title winners
2 in the EPL
and 2 in Serie A

For all the supposed competitiveness of other leagues, it looks like La Liga is just as competitive as any other league.

Lex wrote:

wigglesworth wrote:Barca has a 50-50 chance of winning La Liga again

Agreed. Such an uncompetitive league

Hey, you said it, not me

I said it and I believe it is an uncompetitive league except for the competition between Barcelona and Madrid, which is very competitive.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:La Liga past 5 years - 2 winners
EPL past 5 yers - 2 winners
Serie A past 5 years - 2 winners

For all the supposed competitiveness of other leagues, it looks like La Liga is just as competitive as any other league.

Yet, the variety in number twos is quite a bit higher in the EPL and Seria A.
Plus, their number three was on average probably not closer to relegation than winning the league.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:La Liga past 5 years - 2 winners
EPL past 5 yers - 2 winners
Serie A past 5 years - 2 winners

For all the supposed competitiveness of other leagues, it looks like La Liga is just as competitive as any other league.

ignoring the bundesliga huh...

Bundesliga the most competitive

Barcelona are always in negotiations with us over Fabregas lol

wigglesworth wrote:The guy wants to win some sort of title. Barca has a 50-50 chance of winning La Liga again. Those are much better odds that Arsenal will win the EPL. In fact, next year, they will struggle to get 4th with Tottenham not in the CL.

lol your funny