What goes around comes around? The story of Arsenal, Barca and Cesc
So, people are moaning about the way Barcelona are pursuing Cesc Fabregas. ‘It’s wrong’, ‘they should be fined’, ‘they can’t do that’, ‘he won’t leave’. Just a number of comments I’ve seen across Arsenal forum’s online. Well, let’s be realistic here, was it not Barcelona that Arsenal prized Fabregas away from in the first place? Could it be that Arsenal fans are beginning to panic that their star man might be tempted by a team who have won 6 trophies in one year, just one less than Arsenal have managed in the last decade? Or it could be that, quite simply, tapping up of players is forbidden by FIFA and the Arsenal faithful have every reason to be annoyed?
There is no point sitting here debating the reasons as to why Barcelona might be tempting to a young Spaniard. They are simple, Barcelona’s record speaks for itself, a move back to the country where you were born would be tempting for anybody and, quite frankly, Arsenal are not delivering trophies.
An interesting point would be whether Cesc should go to Barca. He is already behind Xavi and Iniesta in the pecking order for Spain, so a move to the Camp Nou would seemingly spell out the same story. Unless he is willing to take on a defensive role which would restrict his forward runs, the runs that have made him so good this season, then he may have a chance.
Another question would be whether Arsenal fans really have a right to be aggrieved with the Catalan’s for their persistence? After all, they did technically steal him from Barca when he was a teenager. Likewise with Fran Merida, another youngster who joined Arsenal ‘controversially’ due to Spanish rulings which prevent clubs from offering contracts to players under the age of 18.
It’s not only Arsenal who took advantage of this rule. I seem to remember a certain Gerard Pique joining Manchester United at a young age.
Ok, so ‘legally’ the clubs did nothing wrong. They were able to offer something that Barca couldn’t, and in doing so signed some of the best youth around. In the case of Fab, Barcelona are also ‘technically’ not doing anything wrong. Flirting with a player is not part of the FIFA restrictions, nor is telling your players to announce how happy they would be if he joined them in the Catalan capital.
If the saying is correct and what goes around really does come around then Arsenal should start worrying. United signed Pique, then sold him for around £6million, and are now seeing one of the best defender’s in Europe strut his stuff while they leak goals. Justice is a word that comes to mind. None the less, a worrying sign for Arsenal. Will Arsenal fans really have a right to complain? For sure, an interesting summer beckons as the club awaits its fate.
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Good Article. It always has amused me how my fellow gooners question the actions of Barca. We exploited a loop hole and took two top quality talents from their grasp. Can we really blame them for doing everything they can to woo them back. It isn’t right, but then neither is raiding their youth team.
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I suppose in many ways the author is right and this is probably the thinking of Barcelona as well. To be honest this is the first time the catalans can ever be accused of such tapping up, it is usually Madrid who are the guilty parties.
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Unfortunately it is the way of the football world now. Arsene Wenger can moan about their pursuit but I really believe that if you can’t beat them then you should join them and start courting the likes of Bojan.
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Good article, and I agree with Lucas that perhaps it is time to stop with the moral highground and do what all other clubs now do in obtaining players. Barca have paved the way for Cesc to return, it is now up to Fabregas. I hope he stays, but I think the damage from Barca has already been done.
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I don’t approve of Barca’s approach but having watched Madrid’s way of working and signing players, maybe it is the way to go.
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your comments are laughable fab did not have to leave barca at 16 why did he then?youth has a better chance at The Arsenal he will go back when his ready not when the media says so barca are breaking the rules not Arsenals rules by the way your all so boring with this its so old hat
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Your article at best is misguided, at worst purile and ridiculous.
Comparing a concerted and incessent campaign designed simply to unsettle a contracted player, to Cesc originally deciding for himself that a move to Arsenal would be best for his career.., is like comparing night and day.
It makes it all the more laughable when your best player was himself ‘stolen’, away from his homeland and family aged 15. I refer of course to Lionel Messi.
It always makes me laugh when plastic barca fans climb up on their high horse, screaming moral indignation towards arsenal, whilst at the same time wearing their Messi 10 shirts.
A more accurate comparison with how barca and their shameless, tinpot politicians are behaving now would be when another superstar was spirited away on the back of a spanish club election. Oh, That player would be Luis Figo….., remember him? Remember how it felt?
‘More than just a club’…., what santamonious, reheated garbage.
Myself, I am an Arsenal fan. I can say that i admire and respect Barcelona immensely. But the men who run the club, shame it on a daily basis.
Barcelona dont need Cesc Fabregas, they dont even want him. But their wounded pride just cannot accept that the player chose Arsenal over them. Really, that is what this whole thing is about.
This was ably demonstrated by their attempted tit for tat of trying to prise away Benik Afobe(signed arsenal contract today, better luck next time chaps!)
Cesc Fabregas was free, as were Arsenal, to negotiate with each other at the time he joined us. Arsenal broke no rules, nor did Cesc Fabregas. If you want someone to blame, then blame your authorities.
In the meantime, its time Barcelona learnt some respect and showed a little humility.
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Messi would not even be a footballer if it wasn’t for Barca. They paid for the treatment that Newell’s couldn’t and even found a job for his father in Spain so i guess that solves that one. Cesc may have chosen to go to Arsenal and he will probably choose to go back this summer. Thanks to the people who appreciated the point I was trying to make anyway.
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Bang on J…the truth is Barca are obsessed with Arsenal…they are like a retirement home for exArsenal players! And Sefa – Barca would not of won all those trophies, with that squad, in our league – Messi would always be injured coz he would get kicked into the next week every game and big brutes on negative tactics would disrupt your play and close you down aggressively – plus there are at least 6 or 7 good teams – compared to the 2 in your league.
As for Cesc, I think the more your clubs leaders and players bang on about him coming back…the less likely it will become. He is a level headed, evasive character, constantly making a scene will not appeal to him.
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Your article is completely incorrect. Fabregas wanted to leave Barcelona and even strongly considered joining Espanyol (Barca’s equivalent to Tottenham) until Sandro Rossella stepped in and found an alternative in Arsenal.
Fabregas was impatient at the fact that Barca did not seem to recognise his talent. If I were Barca I would not bother due to complete lack of respect Fabregas showed to his boyhood club.
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