• Premier League

Pique sympathetic to Arsenal's Cesc resistance

ESPN staff
June 7, 2010
Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol and Cesc Fabregas could all become team-mates at Barcelona next season © Getty Images
Enlarge

Gerard Pique understands why Arsenal are so determined to cling on to Cesc Fabregas but would be delighted to be reunited with his international team-mate at Barcelona next season.

Arsenal have formally rejected an opening bid of €35 million for Fabregas and have told Barcelona that they have no intention of selling their captain. However, Barca are determined to press on with their courting of the player in an attempt to bring Fabregas back to the club.

Pique and Fabregas were colleagues at Barcelona's La Masia academy before both pursued a career in England, but while has Fabregas flourished into one of the Premier League's leading midfielders at Arsenal, Pique was unable to make a lasting impression at Manchester United before rejoining Barca in the summer of 2009.

He now hopes their paths cross once again at club level, even though Pique acknowledges the deal to bring Fabregas back to Camp Nou will prove much harder than prising him from Old Trafford two years ago.

"They are different situations,'' Pique said in El Mundo Deportivo. "Cesc is more important at Arsenal than I was at Manchester United.

"I didn't play as much as I would have liked and in this case it was easier to open the door for me to leave. You can understand Arsenal and the situation of (Arsene) Wenger.

"Cesc is very focused on the World Cup and the national team. He knows his future is being decided, but he`s calm because it is others who have to resolve his transfer to Barca.

"I'm keen (for Fabregas to join Barcelona). He's a friend and also a great footballer. I have the fortune of being able to enjoy his company in the national team and it would be a pleasure to enjoy it every day at Barca as well.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices