Fabregas was the subject of a reported £30 million approach by the Catalan club prior to the World Cup but the Gunners are reluctant to part with their prize asset, who has five years left on his current contract.
Arsenal appeared to gain the upper hand in the protracted saga when Barca coach Pep Guardiola conceded on Monday that the North London club would have the final say on the 23-year-old's future.
But Xavi, a member of Spain's victorious World Cup squad alongside Fabregas, is confident a deal will be reached to take the former Barcelona trainee back to the Camp Nou - be it this summer or next.
"We know where Cesc wants to be this coming season, but perhaps there is not enough time for Barcelona and Arsenal to agree a deal," Xavi said.
"Arsenal need to understand they are only delaying the inevitable. If we don't manage to get his signature this season then Arsenal only really have him on loan for a year - because there is nothing they can do to stop him joining next summer."
Arsenal had another ultimately disappointing season in 2009-10, finishing third in the Premier League after going out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage to Barca.
The Blaugrana meanwhile fought off a magnificent challenge from Real Madrid to retain their Liga title, but were eliminated from Europe at the following hurdle to Jose Mourinho's Internazionale.
Fabregas was forced to don a Barca shirt during Spain's victorious World Cup celebrations.
No comments:
Post a Comment