It has been taken for granted now that Cesc Fabregas will move to Barcelona and the general consensus is that the move will come this summer. Only Arsenal fans are sceptical to that point, they feel that he will give the club a few more seasons before moving to his boyhood side and they could well be right. Xavi’s not going to leave Barcelona any time soon and still has a good few seasons in him where Fabregas would be better served spending his time playing first team football than waiting around on the bench, a point I’ve made in previous articles. Still, the fact that everyone seems sure that Fabregas will end up at Barcelona makes it appear that Xavi’s successor is chosen and waiting for his return to the Nou Camp – after all, Arsenal would surely not stand in the way of their captain should he wish to leave, he’s done enough at the club to secure his safe passage for the near future.

Given the possibility that Fabregas could spend a few more years at Arsenal it is a bit premature to be sure he will be Xavi’s replacement. Barcelona are well known for producing quality players through their youth academy – Fabregas and Xavi did both emerge from there after all. The recent emergence of Sergio Busquets could have thrown a different name into the arena for Xavi’s replacement had it not been for their differing styles which make Busquets suit being a more defensive option than Xavi’s successor must be. But Barca’s academy keeps producing quality players and they don’t hesitate in putting youngsters in the fray as past players like Pep Guardiola himself and Ivan De La Pena can testiment. Before Fabregas’ arrival at the club a new boy could become Xavi’s heir; Barca fans are very hopeful about a number of their young attacking midfielders with Thiago Alcantara in particular set to be a real talent.

Despite this the supporters in Barcelona seem to regard Fabregas as a hometown hero despite his having left the club as a youngster and his return to the Nou Camp is being called for strenuously. It’s Barca fans in particular who are pushing for the Spanish international to be signed as soon as possible which is an unnecessary demand given how they adore Xavi and how he would be chosen over Fabregas for the next few years. Obviously Barcelona want to have as strong a squad as possible and having Fabregas ready to step in for Xavi whenever the playmaker needs rest would be fantastic for the club but it all depends on whether Fabregas is willing to go to Barcelona earlier and risk becoming a backup for the first team. If he waits he risks the possibility of an emerging star taking his place as successor.

The thing about Barcelona’s midfield is that the majority of the players in it have a number of quality years left ahead of them and they will be a settled midfield for years to come – Leo Messi, Andres Iniesta and Busquets are bound to be part of Barca’s first choice line-up for a good part of a decade yet which leaves Xavi and Thierry Henry as the only replaceable players. Fabregas is one of the few players in the world who could fill Xavi’s boots but there’s no guarantee that someone else as good won’t emerge. I do believe that Fabregas will sooner or later end up at Barcelona but will he be competing for a place with another young ace or will he wait in the wings for Xavi to retire before claiming the place? It seems patience will be a necessity in whatever choice Fabregas makes. And whilst it is being taken as a sure thing that Fabregas will indeed go to the Nou Camp you should never underestimate Barca’s youth team. What are the chances the next Xavi will emerge quickly and usurp Fabregas’s suggested place in the team?

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