Let’s talk about Cesc

Let's talk about Cesc baby!

I’ve gone back and forth on writing someting related to the firestorm that is circling around our Captain Cesc Fabregas. And frankly, I am probably saying some of what many of saying but hell what kind of Arsenal blog would this be if I didn’t address it right?

The entire internet universe is abuzz with rumours and inneuendo about whether or not Cesc will depart Arsenal for the silver pastures of Barcelona. At this point right now it is very hard to decipher fact from fiction. There are likley some very truthful articles out there and some rather decietful articles only intended to grow readership. But as the saying goes, where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

Let’s go back a week ago with Cesc Fabregas in his native Spain and asked whether he would ever leave Arsenal his response was:

“If I leave Arsenal it will be to play at Barcelona, I do not know when it will happen, I am very happy at Arsenal and I am in no hurry to leave.”

To me that’s a pretty harmless statement. But when added to the follow-up statement:

“Before the World Cup I want to know my future, because playing at a World Cup and having something on your mind does not help anyone.”

You can see where confusion might reign and start to make people wonder. Now my original read on the follow-up statement was this – Cesc is no dummy and knows that the Barca Presidential elections are coming and that he is likely to become a pawn in their proceedings as each candidate will make promises on players they want to bring in. Cesc is a huge local favorite and the Barca President who brings him in will be a hero. My thought was that Cesc was merely saying I don’t want to be a pawn in this. He is almost saying, if you are serious about making an offer to Arsenal do it – I don’t need my name in the press for the entire summer, especially when I am trying to win the World Cup with Spain.

The problem is all Cesc did at the age of 23 mind you, is fan the flames further. Joan Deporta, outgoing Barca President was told this and then went on record to say if the player said that we have to get him here. Then came Tuesday’s shit storm.  As the sun rose in the states the internet was on fire with a blog that stated Cesc had had a one on one meeting with Arsene Wenger where he said he wanted to leave Arsenal this summer for Barcelona.

Guillem Balague’s blog that started as a rumor on his own site turned into a full fledged article on Spanish site AS.com (article is here – make sure you have Google translator or can read spanish). It was then picked up by the English press and run with.

Now let me say that I do not believe the English press picked this up without investigation. However, I am still a little leary of the article. First it only implies what Cesc says and carries no statement from those close to him or the player himself. So the question has to be asked how does Guillem Balague know what happened in a private conversation between the two. Secondly, supposedly Arsene is on holiday. Now I am sure he can easily fly back for the crunch talks but I am just saying as quickly as this storm erupted.

Finally on Wednesday there seemed to be a variety of articles out there that gave the press some outs – you saw statements from Barca saying that if Arsenal did not want to sell then they would have to respect that. Also stories came out that Arsenal have not received any offers for the player.  To me this was all to mitigate any damage should the story they hyped the previous day prove to be nothing.

Now let’s get to brass tacks. I think the conversation did happen. I think the manner in which Arsenal ended the season may have added to the frustration Cesc was going through based on his injury. Had he not been injured the likelihood of losing as many as we did at the end is diminished. Chances are with Cesc AND Van Persie on the pitch things may have ended differently and we wouldn’t have gone out with a whimper. Clearly its evident that this can lead all players to get frustrated.

Secondly, it is hard not to admire the era that is currently underway ast Barcelona and Cesc would be crazy not want to jump in now when he is going to be entering his prime. If he were to wait a few years that golden era may not still be there. Things change. Just ask Arsenal.

But when it comes down to it, Arsenal hold the cards. They have Cesc under contract for 4 years (I’ve also heard 5). They are paying him a good wage £80-110K per week. And they gave him his shot. Cesc is who he is today because of Arsenal not Barcelona. The kid at academy had he stayed at Barca may not have even gotten a chance to play regular first team ball. At 16 years old he got his chance with the Arsenal squad.  He is who he is because of Arsenal.

 Arsenal do not need to sell. This is not a case like Viera or Henry where they were on the down side of their career. This is a young player who is on the way up. Like Anelka was. Arsenal dug their heels in on him and finally sold him to Real Madrid at a significant profit. The significant profit doesn’t come into play for Cesc because more than Anelka the team is being built around Cesc.  Anelka wasn’t integral to Arsenal at the time. There were plenty of players of signifigance on the team at the team Anelka was sold.

My fear as has been discussed by others is that this is going to get acrimonious. I think Arsenal are going to stand firm. How the Catalan handles this will determine how it all plays out. As much as I dislike Cristiano Ronaldo the year before his transfer when speculation was rife – when Man United said no – he shut up and played his heart out for the team and then got his transfer.  I would hope that this is the case for Cesc that he handles this with the dignity he has handled the inneuendo before.

Finally, Arsenal must hold firm on two fronts. First, they must hold their line with regard to the player. They have a signed contract and have made him a star. They gave him his shot and they need to say – we will sell you when we want to  – not when you want to. Additionally, Arsenal must know Barca’s financial situation. The hold significant debt on the team right now. (I believe in excess of £500 million) The funds to secure Fabregas are limited. Barca do not have the financial resources of Madrid, Chelsea or City. They can only pay so much. (about £40 million). Supposedly Arsenal are telling them its £50 million just to start discussions. If that’s so,  good for them. Arsenal need to set the tone and not move from their stance.  For Barca to think that since he was in their youth system they will get some sort of discount is ridiculous. Cesc is who he is because of Arsenal not Barcelona.

Fabregas will leave Arsenal. When? Who knows. Arsenal fans will have to come to grips with that at some point.