• Premier League

Wenger wants an end to Fabregas saga

ESPNsoccernet staff
July 17, 2010
Speculation has been rife all summer that Cesc Fabregas will be heading for the exit door at Arsenal © Getty Images
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Arsene Wenger insists Cesc Fabregas loves Arsenal and says speculation linking him with a move to Barcelona "has to stop".

Talk over the move has been a constant in the media throughout the summer since Fabregas revealed he was keen to return to Camp Nou, with former Barca president Joan Laporta and his successor, Sandro Rosell, both talking up the move.

Barca players including Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta have spoken of their desire to see the deal go through, while Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol put a Barcelona shirt on the player following Spain's World Cup success.

Rosell had recently talked down the chances of a move, saying Arsenal "don't want to listen to offers", and Wenger now wants the stories to end.

"I believe Cesc loves the club, has shown his attachment to the club many times and I am very confident the story will end there," he said. "We want Cesc to be part of our club next year, and that is it.

"There was a lot of unneeded talk. It is not pleasant to read that every day. Now the story has to stop. Cesc is our captain. He is so important to us and we want to keep him. That is why we were not listening to any offers. It was not a problem of money - just the desire to keep him at the club."

He added: "We can only influence our own behaviour, and I believe things have now gone straight again with Sandro Rosell.

"We always had a consistent attitude and were always reluctant to talk about Cesc's departure. It is very important we give the impression that just because somebody wants a player from us, we do not just give in."

The Arsenal fans displayed an X-rated anti-Barcelona banner during their pre-season friendly against Barnet.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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