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They’ve been fierce rivals on the field and it now seems like they’re ready to slug it out off it as well! Two of the world’s biggest rivals in football’s history, Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid and Barcelona are all set to take their acrimony to a different level. The centre of attraction in this case is Arsenal’s want-away captain Cesc Fabregas.
It all looked vividly obvious, virtually sealed and delivered… a move to Barcelona for Cesc Fabregas, who has maintained his desire to move back to his homeland and to a club where he started off and has his roots deeply embedded. Fabregas always had the desire of playing alongside his Spanish counterparts in the best club in the world as Barcelona are touted to be. Adding fuel to this desire was the frustration emanating out of Arsenal’s failure to capitalize on good starts in the Premier League and other cup competitions which saw them fail to win anything of worth in the last six years. While Fabregas has won just one title with the Gunners, the only one being the FA Cup in 2005, his former club has won 11 titles in the same period. With Barcelona resorting to cheap but effective and manipulative tactics by throwing in their stars to sway Fabregas’ mind in turning his back on Arsenal, the young Arsenal skipper’s desire to reunite with his boyhood club has grown stronger. Considering this and AC Milan, the Italian suitors of Fabregas, giving up their interest on the player citing “the player’s desire to join another club” made Fabregas’ proposed move to the Nou Camp imminent.
When the prolonged Cesc Fabregas transfer saga looked to be finally reaching it’s predictable end, there came a twist in the tale! Barcelona’s biggest adversary Real Madrid has now joined the race to sign the charismatic young Spaniard. In what could have never been imagined but hardly flabbergasting considering Real Madrid chief Jose Mourinho’s admiration for Fabregas, one can expect an exhilarating battle between the two Spanish rivals on a different pitch…
Here’s a lowdown on what stands in the favour and against these two clubs in their attempts to lure Cesc :
BARCELONA
In favour:
- Childhood dream: Fabregas grew up watching Barcelona and spent his early footballing years with the Catalans. He has made it no secret about his desire to play for the club one day.
- Serious intent: Barcelona have openly expressed their desire to have back what they claim to be theirs and are willing to pay in all cash for the services of their target. Their constant persuasion and determination to land Cesc coupled with the players desire to leave could force his current employers into submission.
- The Pep Effect: One of the major reasons behind Fabregas’ desperation to move to Spain is Pep Guadiola. He is very fond of the Barca manager and they share a deep bond. His respect and admiration for Pep is a big advantage in Barca’s favour.
- Spanish Revelry: Barcelona had as many as eight of their players in the first eleven of their World cup winning team. Cesc Fabregas, who was a part of the squad grew close to most of them during his time with the team and their constant persuading of Cesc to join them at Barca is a factor too.
Against:
- Discord on price: Barcelona have maintained their stance on Fabregas’ value not being the same as it was at this time last summer. Barcelona had a 35 million pounds bid rejected by the Gunners last year and Fab, being a year older cannot be valued at the same price as per Barca President Sandro Rossell. The Catalans had their first bid for 27 million pounds rejected and have now reportedly improved their offer by a bit raising it to 32 million. This however, has not gone down well with the Gunners who are resilient in their demand for an improved bid, somewhere in the region of 40-45 million pounds.
-Place in the starting 11: Barcelona, who are used to deploying three in midfield would find it difficult to accommodate Fabregas given Iniesta, Xavi and Busquets have been doing exceedingly well for the Catalans. If Fabregas wants a guaranteed place in the starting eleven, his this wish might not be granted.
- Unprofessional approach: Some sources in Arsenal have expressed displeasure with the way Barcelona have gone about manipulating their player. Barcelona on one hand have been raising an emotional bogey and claimed Fabregas to be theirs and on the other hand have been acting stingy when it comes to meeting Arsenal’s valuation. To add to the chagrin, some of Barcelona’s players have been personally involved in persuading Cesc to join them which has not gone down well with Arsene Wenger and many of the Arsenal fans.
a battle on a different pitch
REAL MADRID
In favour:
- Meeting valuation: Real Madrid value Fabregas a lot higher than their nemesis Barcelona. While Barca value Cesc at a maximum of 35 million pounds, Real are prepared to table a bid for 45 million pounds which is as good as what Arsenal want for their star man.
- The Special One: Wherever he goes, people stand up and take notice. Such is the stature of the Galacticos’ boss Jose Mourinho. He has made his admiration for the Arsenal playmaker evident and under his guidance and support, Fabregas has a massive scope of improving as a player and he can start from where it all ended at Arsenal.
Against:
- Barcelona’s biggest rival: Fabregas, who is a Barcelona fan by heart, could cringe at the possibility of playing for their greatest rivals. For someone who has grown up watching the Catalans would find it irksome to think about playing for the Galacticos.
- Unsure of place in the starting 11: Like in Barcelona, Real’s midfield is very well organized and with the likes of Alonso, Ozil, Di Maria and Ronaldo looking untouchable, Cesc could find it difficult to break in the first team. However, with Kaka not having been able to weave his magic the way he did for Milan and his constant battle with injury coupled with Lasana Diarra being linked with a move away from the Bernabeu, Cesc might just get to start.
What to expect?
Weighing the pros and cons on both sides, it looks likely that Cesc Fabregas would move to Barcelona considering his intense desire to play for the Nou Camp outfit which is widely believed to be the best team the world has seen in a long time. However, Arsenal, his present club could make things difficult for him by choosing to sell him to Real Madrid who are prepared to shell out more for the talented playmaker.
The battle to sign the proficient midfielder could go down to the wire and add a lot of spice to the Fabregas transfer saga which has turned mundane lately.
