Friday, July 17, 2009

Francesc Fabregas walpaper

Francesc Fabregas walpaper
Francesc Fabregas | Arsenal, originally uploaded by soccerarts.

Cesc Fabregas and Ryan Giggs

Cesc Fabregas not on Real Madrid's wishlist

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas is not one of Real Madrid's transfer targets this summer, according to the club's sporting director Miguel Pardeza.

Fabregas had been touted as a potential target for Real if they fail in their bid to persuade Liverpool to part with Xabi Alonso.

Madrid have long been linked with Fabregas, as have the Spain international's former club Barcelona, but Pardeza is adamant the 22-year-old is not on their radar.

"He is a great player, there's no doubt about that. But at this moment he is not a target for Real Madrid. The club are working on other alternatives," he said.

Pardeza also confirmed they had come up against brick wall regarding Alonso, but insisted that did not necessarily mean their hopes of bringing the Euro 2008 winner to the Bernabeu were now over.

"Madrid must not discard an option until it's totally gone. Now there is an insurmountable financial barrier, but it's something that could change. We're looking for alternatives, although there aren't many."

Madrid have already spent close to £200million on four new signings - Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Raul Albiol - this summer but are still looking to add a couple more players as they seek a return to winning ways after ending last season empty-handed.

Two of those new arrivals, Ronaldo and Benzema, were part of the Madrid squad that started pre-season training today.

However, the club's other two big summer signings to date, Kaka and Albiol, along with Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Javi Garcia and Dani Parejo were all absent as they are still holidaying due to their international commitments this summer.

Arsenal place £40m price tag on Cesc Fabregas to warn off Barca and Real Madrid

Arsenal have moved to discourage Barcelona and Real Madrid from making an approach for midfielder Cesc Fabregas by placing a £40 million price tag on the Spaniard’s head.

Manager Arsene Wenger is eager to generate funds to carry out squad improvements at the Emirates Stadium.

Though he would be very reluctant to see Fabregas leave, sources inside the club told the Sun that a figure of that amount would necessarily put pressure on Wenger to sell.

Fabregas remains one of Wenger’s stand out performers and at 22 has much more to offer in his career.

However, it will not have escaped the Arsenal hierarchy’s notice that when he was out injured last season the club went on a terrific 22 match unbeaten run.

Real and Barcelona, where Fabregas played as a youth team player, have both signalled their intentions to bid for the Spain international, with Barcelona president Joan Laporta last week saying as much as he encouraged Fabregas to speak out in favour of a return to the Catalan club.

“Cesc has Barcelona in his DNA and I think one day he should play for Barca.

“We all like him very much – the technical director, the manager, as well as me. He’s always been in our thoughts.”

Fabregas, too, has been vocal within the last week over his displeasure at Arsenal’s recent record.

”The absence of titles at Arsenal is what angers me the most,” he said.

“Cristiano Ronaldo said he’s leaving Manchester united because he had nothing else to win.

“For me right now it is the exact opposite, seeing the impotence.”

Barcelona again come calling for Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas

Fabregas has been linked with a move back to Spain for the last couple of years but has always pledged his loyalty to Wenger.

However, a lack of silverware at the Emirates has seen the Spanish international grow increasingly frustrated and he recently criticised Arsenal's "impotence" in challenging for titles.

Real Madrid and Barca have been monitoring Fabregas' situation with interest, although both have baulked at the £40 million asking price.

Nevertheless, the Catalans, who Fabregas left to join Arsenal in 2003 as a 16-year-old, have not given up hope of unveiling the 22-year-old as a Barcelona player within the next couple of years.

Laporta told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope: “Cesc Fabregas has the Barcelona DNA in his body and we know that he wants to play for this club.

"At the moment he is the leader at Arsenal and a very important player for them. But Cesc is wanted by me, by the coach Pep Guardiola and by the sport director Txiki Begiristain.

“We are concentrating all of our efforts on it, but at the same time we have a lot of respect for Arsenal. We have positive relations with Arsenal so it will not be an easy topic to talk to them about.”