Three Reasons Fàbregas Shouldn’t Go to Barcelona

By: Daryl | October 13th, 2007

Cesc Fabregas again The agent of Cesc Fàbregas has pricked up his ears at rumours his client could return to Barcelona. Apparently neither agent Joseba Diaz nor the player himself are aware of any forthcoming offers, but they’re not ruling them out either. In fact they appear to be encouraging a bid: “I have spoken with Cesc and we are not aware of any interest from Barca,” he said, in Spanish. “And if they do have interest, hopefully they do, because they are a great club, who play great football and Cesc was very happy there.”

But not happy enough to stay. A 16 year old Fàbregas upped sticks in 2003 and joined Arsenal, where he correctly assumed he had a better chance of breaking into the first team. Now aged 20, he’s playing regularly and arguably looks like the best player in the Premier League this season. There are plenty reasons Fàbregas would want to return to Barca. He’s from Catalonia, his hero is Pepe Guardiola, he grew up watching La Liga but has never played in it, he’s never had a big money transfer, Barca are arguably a bigger club than Arsenal, etc. But surely Diaz should be counseling a 20 year old Fàbregas to stay at Arsenal and enjoy his good form? Here are three reasons why:

1) Too many playmakers With Giberto Silva behind him and two strikers in front, Fàbregas is the Arsenal playmaker. He’s the most technically gifted player in an already very talented side, so everything goes through him, everyone looks to give him the ball. If he goes to Barcelona, then Ronaldinho, Messi, Iniesta and Deco and youngsters like Giovani and Bojan are all looking to be the playmaker. Fàbregas will have to play as just another centre midfielder. He’ll still be good, but he won’t be the star.

2) Nicolas Anelka The then young Frenchman looked the most deadly striker in the world playing in a winning Arsenal team alongside Denis Bergkamp. But he wanted bigger and better. He wanted Real Madrid and their money. So he basically went on strike until Arsenal agreed to sell him. They did, but when he got to Madrid, Anelka was told to play right midfield and lo, he was not happy. Cue years of bouncing around different clubs, never quite finding his old Arsenal form.

3) It would break Arsene Wenger’s heart The guy has been doing some incredible work at Arsenal, constantly rebuilding exciting teams with talented youngsters. In many ways Fàbregas has come to represent that ethic. He’s replaced both Patrick Vieira as the dominant midfield force, and Thierry Henry as the team talisman. Add to that the fact that Wenger’s new look post-Henry 2007 Arsenal looks like a team that can genuinely challenge for honours. To lose Fàbregas now would pull the rug out from under everything Wenger seems to have planned at the Emirates.