How about a little Cesc baby?
The summers without league football are a long strenuous affair with the supporters grasping on any little story about our club that comes up. One that has enthralled and captured our attention for most of this early summer is the possibility that Cesc Fabregas may be one of the club’s big targets for this summer.
According to the press Arsenal could exercise their “right to refusal” on Cesc as other clubs namely, Manchester United, reportedly consider Cesc as their main transfer target. In case you are living in a box and hibernating till the season kick’s off – when Arsenal sold Cesc to Barcelona, they reportedly inserted two clauses into the deal:
- Arsenal retain right of first refusal on Cesc should Barcelona decide to move the midfielder. That clause would be activated if Arsenal met a £20-£25 million payment option, and
- Arsenal will receive 50% of any fee should Barcelona sell to a club other than Arsenal.
The second clause interests me more than then the first honestly. It basically makes Cesc cost-prohibitive to other clubs and here’s why; Barcelona bought Cesc for around £34 million (for which they substantially owe monies still to AFC) if they want to recoup what they bought him for they need to sell for at least that. However, they’d still only see a £17 million return. In order for them to actually get back what they paid they’d have to sell him for £68 million to break even on the deal. Now you can see why Cesc becomes unsellable to anyone other Arsenal.
Cesc is still a terrific player but he is not in that stratosphere to command that kind of transfer fee.
The thing about this whole Cesc Fabregas story is that there are so many questions out there related to it, you just don’t know what to believe.
Many blogs have already tried to tackle aspects of this story. It may seem like we’re “Johnny Come Lately” on the story but it’s only because I’ve gone back and forth on it and not sure even now where I land on it.
We don’t need to go back to how good Cesc is, we all know that. He is a superb passer of the ball who sees plays develop 2-3 moves before they do. He can absolutely dictate the tempo and pace of play with his technical skill and sharp playing instinct. His confidence, mentality, and character complement his technique so well he is when in form, one of the top 5 midfielders in the world.
But the move to his boyhood home hasn’t been all roses for him. He came in patiently waiting in the wings as the heir apparent to Andres Iniesta. But he has been bounced around in roles with both Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova in charge of the Cules. As a matter of fact it’s hard to take with a player blessed with such skill but as he played against Bayern Munich he was roundly whistled – the sure sign of dissatisfaction from the Barcelona faithful.
His stats when look in total are impressive. In 88 games played in all competitions, he has 27 goals and 34 assists. Not too shabby if you ask me. But as you dig into the facts, the Cesc Fabregas who would save Arsenal when it all went wrong is only able to step up against lesser opposition and has often times disappeared in the big game. In 8 Champion’s League ties and El Classicos this season he has only managed two goals. Added to that is that since January has had 4 goals and two assists but 3 of those goals and the two assists came in one match versus Mallorca.
Additionally, under both Pep and Tito, where he exactly fits in hasn’t been established. Working under Pep his boyhood idol turned out to be frustrating for him:
“I never really got to grips with Guardiola’s system”
“If I have to take my disappointed face home, then so be it, but I will never let my teammates or coach see it.”
And it seems that these frustrations are likely because he also hasn’t lived up to his coach’s expectations. They have both tried to fit him into their system. But with a fully fit midfield, Fabregas becomes 4th choice or second choice “false 9” behind Messi. When they have tried to accommodate him, they have pushed Iniesta out on the wing which has unbalanced the squad to the point where Iniesta becomes less effective. It takes out of the game arguably the best CAM in the world. Something, you cannot afford if the expectations of Barcelona are to be met game in and game out.
Cesc Fabregas wanted this move and if reports are to be believed he agitated for by basically refusing to participate in Arsenal activities in the summer leading up to the transfer. It probably hasn’t worked out as expected. We all have done things like this where we may have been the big fish in one pond and wound up being a smaller fish in a bigger pond and not finding it as exciting any more. One piece from Bleacher Report said it perfectly – “winning cameos against the Aston Villa’s of La Liga aren’t appreciated they are expected.”
But Cesc is noted for his mentality and he has said he is willing to do everything he can to earn his place at Barcelona. He has publically come out and talked of his happiness at the club so you have to wonder about the veracity about the unhappiness stories. It makes you wonder if maybe there is another reason – a non footballing reason why Cesc would even consider leaving at this point?
Funny you should ask.
Prior to all the speculation about a move back to the Premier League, Cesc’s private live was put on full display as it was discovered he was involved in the middle of a highly public and bitter divorce case involving his current girlfriend (and mother of his child) Daniella Semaan and her ex husband London-based millionaire Elie Taktouk.
Elie Taktouk was forced by the courts to sell a multi-million pound home in Belgravia as part of his divorce settlement with Semaan. Within a few weeks time it was Cesc Fabregas’ company that bought the property. That would mean that Semaan not only would benefit from the payoff for the home, but also get to live there rent free.
Semaan lives predominantly in London. She has Cesc’s little baby with her and there are rumours that Cesc is shall we say colloquially “overly smitten” with Ms. Semaan and would do anything to spend more time with her.
This is all pure speculation but come on lads, when was the last time when dealing in matters of the hear (or nether parts) you did something that made sense?
As for the United link should he come back to the Premier League? In this day and age of football you can’t simply shrug it off and say it won’t happen. I’ve discussed plenty of times on this blog the idea that today there is no loyalty to clubs in the modern player. That alone has to be a consideration on whether or not Cesc would join United. If he wants to move to play, then it has to be in the mix.
But unlike a certain Dutchman, Cesc has done nothing to deny his link to the club that he credits with building him. Cesc since his departure has openly and vocally discussed his support of Arsenal, either in the press or social media. That Dutchman on the other hand continues a deliberate campaign to validate his move. He openly attacks the broad perception he moved for a bigger paycheck. The fact he won a trophy should be enough but he continually goes on about. Feeling guilty? The point is, RvP has deliberately tried to distance himself from his Arsenal heritage while Cesc openly embraces it to this day.
That alone to me says that unless Arsenal are completely out of the picture forever, then Cesc won’t move to United or any other Premier Club. Plus there was that instance he dumped a United shirt on the ground at the end of a match. It’s flimsy I know but it has to be considered.
Finally, the argument rages as to whether or not we should be in for him and welcome him back. Yes, it is a valid debate. On his talent alone you have to consider taking him back. He brings that moment of magic that can unlock a difficult game, what Rosicky brings to one extent, is a natural part of Cesc’s game and then some. Simply put if he is available it’s a no-brainer to go in for him.
But on the flip side of the coin there is a case to be made against his return. We don’t know if his drop in form is part of a larger issue and that he may not be progressing as he did under Wenger’s tutelage to his own detriment, and finally and maybe more important to some is the fact that Cesc pushed for this move to Barcelona. At a time he should’ve buckled down and helped move the club he was at forward his loyalties laid at home and chucked aside any feelings for Arsenal and effectively went on strike to force the move.
You want your players to WANT to play for Arsenal. Any player regardless of their past history with the club, that openly pushes for a move and agitates for one should not be welcome back with open arms. The shouldn’t be welcomed back at all.
Wherever you fall in that argument it’s no less valid. Whether he comes back is still up in the air. Right now he is a Barcelona player and we have other pressing needs – like a CB, DM, striker, and suitable backup keeper. Regardless of where it nets out, we have our summer saga whether someone is coming or going and whether we like it or not.
