Gerard Pique slams Barcelona for treatment handed out to Cesc Fabregas

Cesc Fabregas

Barcelona centre-back Gerard Pique has lambasted Barcelona for their handling of midfield maestro Cesc Fabregas, with the Spaniard’s future up in the air and reports even indicating that he has passed a medical at Chelsea.

Fabregas is highly-sought after, after Barcelona, with whom he won the Champions League in 2011, admitted that the Spanish international was available on the transfer market. Manchester United and Arsenal had been heavy favourites to land the former Gunner, but Arsenal are believed to also have a clause in their former captain’s contract which allows them to have first pick on the central-midfielder.

However, reports emerged on Wednesday that Fabregas had undergone a medical in west London and he was set to join Chelsea.

Pique believes the clubs treatment of one of their star men is poor on their part and they have not looked after Fabregas this summer.

Pique was captured by microphones telling Spain manager Vicente Del Bosque that Fabregas had told him he was leaving the Catalan giants.

He said to Del Bosque, while shielding his mouth from the press: “We have to defend Cesc a little. He told me it’s done. He’s off – €33m [£27m], he said to me.”

However, he told reporters after that he feels the clubs treatment of Cesc was not good.

Pique said: “I really like Cesc and I know he is going through a tough time because the club don’t appreciate him as much as they should.

“He is one of those players who would be first choice at any other club in the world, the star of the team.

“Despite that, he is finding it harder at Barca. I don’t know what he’s going to do; we haven’t spoken about that.

“I hope he stays, because if you look at his stats this season, he is our highest-scoring midfielder and the one with the most assists. Of course I want him to stay with us.”

Cesc Fabregas played 61.9% of his passes in La Liga this season forwards.