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Barca’s ‘long-lost son’ is back

Comment: 0 August 15th, 2011 by: admin

TWO years of his transfer saga is over. At last, Cesc Fabregas is going home to Barcelona. Goodbye, Arsenal.

Barcelona and Arsenal announced over the weekend that they have struck a preliminary deal regarding the Spaniard’s transfer to the Catalan side.

The transfer price is said to be worth 40 million pounds.

Only the signing of the deal and the results of the medical exam are still being awaited for Fabregas to officially become the latest member of the powerhouse La Liga and Europe champions.

And more good news to the Camp Nou faithful – their long-sought dream of seeing the prolific playmaker don the Blaugrana jersey could come into realisation this Wednesday when Barca face rivals Real Madrid in the second leg of the Spanish Supercopa. Fabragas’s transfer was announced at halftime of the first leg last Saturday, which ended in a 2-2 stalemate.

Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger was first reluctant to release Fabregas but finally let him go, his exit presenting him the tough task of finding someone who could fill in his huge boots.

Not only will Fabregas’ relocation hurt the Gunners. They also face the prospect of losing Samir Nasri who is said to be moving to Manchester City.

Barcelona president Sandro Rossell and manager Pep Guradiola had already had already welcomed the move of Fabregas, the same sentiment echoed by his old friends, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and the rest of the Catalan side.

Fabregas was a product of the Barca youth academy but he left the club in 2003 as a 16-year-old packing an abundance of midfield talent. He joined Arsenal that year as their youngest-ever starter and has since blossomed to become their captain in 2008.

After the 2009-2010 season, Fabregas expressed his desire to relocate to Barcelona, but
Arsenal refused to sell their top player who agreed for another year’s stay at Emirates. In the off-season, Fabregas renewed his intent to leave the Gunners, setting off more talks about his move.

Fabregas, 24, said the move was an “attractive one’’ for him because he is returning to the club where he learned his football, and where his friends and family are.

Due to a hamstring injury, Fabregas missed most of Arsenal’s pre-season fixtures. He was out for the team’s Premier League opener Saturday against Newcastle in a game which ended in a scoreless draw.

In his eight years at Arsenal, Fabregas rammed home 57 goals in 303 appearances. He won one league title – the FA Cup in 2005 – for the team. As a Spanish international, he played 58 times for the national team and was a member of the squads who captured the 2010 World Cup and 2008 European Championship titles.

Fabregas has fulfilled his dream of moving to Barcelona. But can he fit well with the team that is loaded with other midfield wonders such as Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets? Will he have ample playing time under Guardiola? Let’s see.

 

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