The Cesc Fabregas to United deal is either dead in the water or still on depending on who you read this morning.
New Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino was officially introduced as their manager today, and one of his first statements was that Cesc is going nowhere:
‘Man United want Cesc? If the club rejected two offers, I will reject it a third time. Cesc will be here’ said Martino.
Barca vice president Josep Maria Bartomeu confirmed Martino’s stance, adding:
‘It’s normal United are interested, it’s an honour, but we count on Cesc and we won’t sell, no matter the offer.’
So that’s it then. It appears that Fabregas is staying at Barca for at least another season. But Ian Ladyman in the Daily Mail says that Cesc wants to return to England and play for United.
Ladyman reports that Cesc has told friends that Fabregas has told friends in England that he wants out of the Nou Camp and that he wants the promise of regular football at United and he is keen to link up again with one Robin van Persie.
So who to believe? I think there is a degree of truth to what Barcelona and Fabregas are saying. Barca don’t want to lose him, especially with Xavi another year older and Thiago at Bayern. So I understand their stance.
But United would not have put in two bids for Fabregas without getting some indication from the player that he wants to come to Old Trafford.
Which puts the ball squarely in Cesc’s court. For this deal to go through, he has to tell the club and all his buddies that he wants to leave. The £30m question is whether he will do that?
