Tata Martino claims Fabregas will stay at Barcelona

Cesc Fabregas

Newly appointed Barcelona coach Tata Martino has delivered another telling blow to the ambitions of Manchester United to sign Cesc Fabregas.

Manchester United have offered £35 million for former Arsenal midfielder, who scored a brace in Barca’s 8-0 mauling of Santos on Friday night.

After the match when asked about Fabrgas, Martino asserted “I have spoken with Cesc and he told me what he thought.”

“The idea of not counting on him doesn’t enter my mind, but the player also has to decide. I dare to say that he will stay.

“The idea of not counting on him doesn’t enter my mind, but the player also has to decide.

“I dare to say that he will stay.”

Meanwhile, Sky Sports reports that Fabregas’ team-mate Javier Mascherano believes he is happy at Nou Camp.

“I didn’t talk to him but I think he is happy,” said Mascherano. “It is difficult when you have to speak about the personal situation of other players because sometimes you don’t know what they think.

“I see him here training and he is happy. He grew up in Barcelona and feels the call of the shirt.

“It is difficult when you grow up here to leave because Barcelona is a big team, a big city, really nice to live in and all his family is here.

“I think he is a really key player for us and I think the coach and the people who work here want to keep him.”