Barca moves for Gunner Fabregas
Source: Agencies |
June 3, 2010, Thursday
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Print Edition
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BARCELONA has made a formal offer to Arsenal to buy Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
"Yesterday afternoon we presented a firm, written offer to Arsenal," director general Joan Oliver told the club's Website yesterday.
"Everyone knows Cesc wants to play for Barcelona and everyone also knows we want to sign him but there is a third party that is Arsenal," added Oliver without giving details of the offer.
The English team will be reluctant to lose one of its most influential players. Fabregas said last month he had spoken to manager Arsene Wenger about what he wanted and had left it in his hands.
The player came through the Barcelona youth ranks before moving to Arsenal at 16 but has never made any secret of his desire to return to the Catalan giants at some stage.
Fabregas is in Austria where Spain is preparing for the World Cup in South Africa which starts next week.
The 23-year-old is recovering from a cracked bone in his right leg but could return after two months out against South Korea in a warmup game in Innsbruck tomorrow.
Barcelona vice-president for sport Rafael Yuste said: "I am hoping we can sign him as soon as possible. I am optimistic and it's clear he, his family, the players and everyone else would give him a very warm welcome."
Fabregas would become La Liga champion Barcelona's second major signing in the space of a few weeks after it landed Spain striker David Villa from Valencia for 40 million euros (US$48.92 million) last month.
In another development, Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro is leaving Juventus to play in the United Arab Emirates for Dubai-based club Al Ahli.
The 36-year-old defender, who helped Italy to the 2006 World Cup title and will captain the team at this month's tournament in South Africa, signed a two-year deal with the Dubai club.
Terms of the contract were not announced.
"The contract with Fabio Cannavaro is one of the major deals for us because of the player's experience and talent, and also because he has the character of leader, and he led his team to win the World Cup in Germany in 2006," Al Ahli board chairman Abdullah al-Naboodah said on the club's Website yesterday.
Cannavaro had already announced plans to retire from international football after the World Cup and was looking for a new club after Juventus said it would not exercise an extension on his contract.
Cannavaro, who is playing in his fourth World Cup and has a record 132 caps for Italy, has also played for Real Madrid and Inter Milan during his storied career.
Al Ahli won the United Arab Emirates football league title last season but struggled recently in the Asian Champions League, winning only two games and failing to qualify for the knock-out stage.
The club Website said Cannavaro "was already thinking about moving to live in Dubai which he loves."
"Yesterday afternoon we presented a firm, written offer to Arsenal," director general Joan Oliver told the club's Website yesterday.
"Everyone knows Cesc wants to play for Barcelona and everyone also knows we want to sign him but there is a third party that is Arsenal," added Oliver without giving details of the offer.
The English team will be reluctant to lose one of its most influential players. Fabregas said last month he had spoken to manager Arsene Wenger about what he wanted and had left it in his hands.
The player came through the Barcelona youth ranks before moving to Arsenal at 16 but has never made any secret of his desire to return to the Catalan giants at some stage.
Fabregas is in Austria where Spain is preparing for the World Cup in South Africa which starts next week.
The 23-year-old is recovering from a cracked bone in his right leg but could return after two months out against South Korea in a warmup game in Innsbruck tomorrow.
Barcelona vice-president for sport Rafael Yuste said: "I am hoping we can sign him as soon as possible. I am optimistic and it's clear he, his family, the players and everyone else would give him a very warm welcome."
Fabregas would become La Liga champion Barcelona's second major signing in the space of a few weeks after it landed Spain striker David Villa from Valencia for 40 million euros (US$48.92 million) last month.
In another development, Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro is leaving Juventus to play in the United Arab Emirates for Dubai-based club Al Ahli.
The 36-year-old defender, who helped Italy to the 2006 World Cup title and will captain the team at this month's tournament in South Africa, signed a two-year deal with the Dubai club.
Terms of the contract were not announced.
"The contract with Fabio Cannavaro is one of the major deals for us because of the player's experience and talent, and also because he has the character of leader, and he led his team to win the World Cup in Germany in 2006," Al Ahli board chairman Abdullah al-Naboodah said on the club's Website yesterday.
Cannavaro had already announced plans to retire from international football after the World Cup and was looking for a new club after Juventus said it would not exercise an extension on his contract.
Cannavaro, who is playing in his fourth World Cup and has a record 132 caps for Italy, has also played for Real Madrid and Inter Milan during his storied career.
Al Ahli won the United Arab Emirates football league title last season but struggled recently in the Asian Champions League, winning only two games and failing to qualify for the knock-out stage.
The club Website said Cannavaro "was already thinking about moving to live in Dubai which he loves."
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