Xavi: Cesc must leave Arsenal
Barcelona midfielder Xavi believes that Cesc Fabregas has no choice but to leave Arsenal for the Catalan club this summer.
Xavi is hungry for Fabregas to join him at the Nou Camp in the transfer window, admitting that if he wants to win trophies there is simply no other option.
GEAR:Get your Spain/Fabregas WC shirt
“It is criminal for a player of Cesc’s quality not to be winning the biggest prizes in football," the midfielder said.
"He really has no choice but to leave. He is making the right decision and I hope the Arsenal fans wish him well."
The Spanish international’s words are sure to spark fury amongst Arsenal supporters, whose patience has worn thin with the manner that Barcelona have gone about the transfer.
Fabregas has reiterated all along that he wishes any possible transfer to be complete before the beginning of the World Cup, but with Arsenal naturally unwilling to let their star leave easily, any deal within the next fortnight looks unlikely.
An offer for the 23-year-old is yet to be made, with Barcelona Director General Joan Oliver insisting on Monday evening that there is no rush to complete the deal before the World Cup begins.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
The transfer is unlikely to be concluded anytime soon with the Gunners reportedly requesting a staggering £80 million for the services of the player, but an exit from the club still seems the most likely scenario.
By Joe Brewin
Nick Moore is a freelance journalist based on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. He wrote his first FourFourTwo feature in 2001 about Gerard Houllier's cup-treble-winning Liverpool side, and has continued to ink his witty words for the mag ever since. Nick has produced FFT's 'Ask A Silly Question' interview for 16 years, once getting Peter Crouch to confess that he dreams about being a dwarf.