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Cesc Fabregas: Barcelona president warns off Man Utd

By Ben SmithBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments2085

Cesc Fabregas

Barcelona have told Manchester United that Cesc Fabregas is not for sale.

United confirmed on Monday that they had submitted an improved bid - understood to be £30m plus add-ons for the midfielder - but reports in Spainexternal-link claim that has been turned down.

"Fabregas is not for sale," a Barcelona source said on Monday. "The president (Sandro Rosell) has been very clear with Man United."

Old Trafford boss David Moyes earlier said he may be forced to admit defeat.

When asked whether he would give up on Fabregas were the deal to drag on, Moyes said: "I think a point does come but I think when you are interested in good players you want to give it every opportunity to materialise. And I'll do that.

"I'll hope that things can continue to try to move forward.

"At this moment I can only tell you that Ed Woodward (United's executive vice-chairman) is working hard to make the deals happen and we're hoping some of them will fall into place shortly."

United confirmed they had made a for the 26-year-old midfielder last Monday, with Woodward leading the negotiations.

"As I understand it, Ed had a response [to the first bid]," said Moyes at a news conference in Yokohama, Japan.

"We have made a second offer, but Ed is dealing with it rather than me."

Two days after United's initial offer was confirmed, Woodward returned from the Australia leg of their pre-season tour to attend to urgent transfer business.

Barcelona have not made any official comment, but the situation has reportedly been complicatedexternal-link by the managerial vacancy created at the Nou Camp by to step down because of ill health.

It is not clear whether has any bearing on the club's attempts to sign Fabregas.

The Spaniard came through Barcelona's La Masia academy before Arsenal signed him as a 16-year-old in 2003.

He developed as one of the Gunners' key players under manager Arsene Wenger before taking over the captaincy in November 2008.

Fabregas spent eight years with Arsenal, playing 303 games and scoring 57 goals, but returned to Barcelona in a worth £25.4m in 2011 and has helped them win the Copa del Rey in 2011-12 and La Liga last season.

He has played 96 times in total for Barcelona, including 60 league games, but has rarely featured in his preferred midfield role, with Xavi, 33, and Andres Iniesta, 29, ahead of him in the pecking order.

He has made 83 appearances for Spain, winning the 2010 World Cup and the European Championship twice.

In addition to Fabregas, United have a reported interest in Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Tottenham attacker Gareth Bale.

Left-back Leighton Baines and midfielder Marouane Fellaini, both of whom worked under Moyes at Everton, have also been linked with moves to Old Trafford - where the transfer record remains the £30.75m they paid Tottenham for striker Dimitar Berbatov in 2008.

But none of those moves have materialised as yet and when asked if he appreciated why some United fans were becoming anxious, Moyes replied: "I can understand that feeling.

"But there have been quite a few changes. Other managers have changed their clubs, too, and everybody thought this might be the summer when transfers are done later in the month.

"That was always the thought I had when I came into the club. You have to remember I only started on 1 July, so in truth I have only been in the job three weeks at this present time."

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2085 comments

  • Comment posted by User0117218983, at 13:25 22 Jul 2013

    @239 The Golden Age of Moyes
    "I can't see United dropping too far, no matter who the manager is."
    -----
    should we get mark hughes to take over at United and test that theory out?

  • Comment posted by postman, at 11:29 22 Jul 2013

    There's people here saying that Rooney is only worth £10-15m?! Are they actually crazy?

    The guy scored 38 goals the season before last, has one 'bad season' (in which he still scored 16, assisted 15, played numerous positions, was injured 6+ times and had lost favour with the manager) and all of a sudden he's worth less than James Milner....yeah right.

    He'll rip up the league at Chelsea

  • Comment posted by Hello Neayl, at 12:00 22 Jul 2013

    I'm not a Man Utd supporter, but I still think Kagawa will prove he can be a top class midfielder this season. I remember Jurgen Klopp speaking very highly of him and being no fool either Alex Ferguson signed him up too. I think he has the potential to be a great midfield weapon. I don't think he is best suited to LM where he played a few times. But if MU don't get Fabregas, all is not lost!

  • Comment posted by Welling 4 Promotion, at 15:11 22 Jul 2013

    When a team in the last two years finishes 7th and 8th. I think it is fair to say that they are 7th or 8th best team in the country.

  • Comment posted by User0778634730, at 19:34 22 Jul 2013

    Why don't teams bid for the title at the beginning of the season, then we can avoid the pantomime the EPL has become?

    It's incredibly that only fans that support clubs that are in the perpetual title billionaire merry-go-round, think the league isn't a complete farce.

    Now mash the keyboard unthinkingly and -ve rate whilst you fantasise that your club cares about you or you have any influence.

  • Comment posted by User0843007527, at 12:20 22 Jul 2013

    Barca would be loco to even contemplate selling Cesc given that Thiago's gone and Xavi is past his prime now.

    That and the fact Cesc doesnt want to return to England suggests this is just tabloid filler material.

    This thread is now closed, nothing to see here, move along please...

  • Comment posted by User0735686439, at 11:39 22 Jul 2013

    Sometimes I really think the BBC should get rid of these comment sections. Some people talk such nonsense.

  • Comment posted by georgito, at 11:07 22 Jul 2013

    trolls are so funny, each one of these hilarious, fresh and original posts is like having front row seats to the greatest comedy line-up. what a treat.

    The 1st refusal clause is for £25m.
    So, IF barca wished to sell at 25m, Arsenal could have 1st refusal. CF's choice if he goes.
    This bid is for 30m, Arsenal must match it, then it's CF's choice.
    If MU bid 100, AFC don't get him for 25!

  • Comment posted by Welling 4 Promotion, at 12:56 22 Jul 2013

    373. busterhawk "moyesys failure to land a top midfielder"

    You do realise
    1) we have about 6 weeks left of the transfer window
    2) It is Ed woodward who is trying to sign these midfielders

    Why are people like you so desperate to see him fail before he has even taken charge of a competitive game? Pretty sad really that it would make you happy. How's your life going? Happy to look in the mirror?

  • Comment posted by celtic_craig123, at 13:30 22 Jul 2013

    Is there a new law whereby former Arsenal players must play a certain period of time for one of the Manchester clubs? Just wondering, because it seems to happen a lot.

  • Comment posted by McGaz, at 12:37 22 Jul 2013

    Fabregas moved to Barca knowing that he had to wait for Xavi to age. Now that Xavi has become less effective, this is Fabregas' chance to start becoming more regular in the middle.

  • Comment posted by User0863642066, at 14:51 22 Jul 2013

    "I think people are starting to see through the media hype and charade that is Man U."

    you mean the Charade that has been champions of England 5 out of the last seven seasons, missing out in the other 2 by 1 point and goal difference respectively. i.e. utter domination of the English league.
    United = hype plus substance
    Liverpool = pure hype plus ancient history

  • Comment posted by Welling 4 Promotion, at 14:20 22 Jul 2013

    Kagawa is underrated - get rid of rooney play 1 striker and 1 AM, Play Kagawa behind RVP as 1st choice pairing with Cleverly and Hernandez as 2nd choice.

    Very worst case scenario; we don't sign anyone.. but we will still be capable of winning the PL.

    Add Fellani in CM then we are fine, don't need anyone else. But: (just for fun) add someone like Bale to the scenario then Boom! Done.

  • Comment posted by User0426153971, at 14:55 22 Jul 2013

    @562.siemprerojo

    Ah, but part of the conspiracy is that all TV networks edit the live feeds in real time, to create computer generated feeds that make it SEEM like United have won. The fans in the grounds are all brainwashed using mind-controlling chemical agents in the pies, and the pundits get bungs to play along... Cos Liverpool would win it every year, if only the cover-up were exposed :-)

  • Comment posted by User0792376238, at 13:32 22 Jul 2013

    @TysonFuryWillPrevail

    Reading your name and the comment you made, I see you know nothing about SPORT in general, not just football.

  • Comment posted by Dan, at 19:52 22 Jul 2013

    This is such a non story, rveryone knows Utd don't buy players, everyone who has ever played for them frew up in the shadow of Old Trafford and plays for £20 a week and the love of the club, just like their fathers did before them. They would never buy players from another club and make them the highest earners in the league, that would mean they just bought silverware and didn't earn it.

  • Comment posted by User0785994682, at 20:35 22 Jul 2013

    I see Moyes does not sway far from the hypocrisy that plagues every manager

    Complains about City and there pursuit of Lescott gets frustrated and vents his anger that Rooney is not for sale and Chelsea's attention is not welcome but yet has no problem bidding for Fabregas, making it public gets told he is not for sale, bids again and states that you have to give every opportunity to materialise

  • Comment posted by bobby, at 20:31 22 Jul 2013

    We are having some problems rating all of these comments but we are all waiting the birth of Kate's baby and will be back later,sorry.

  • Comment posted by Jay, at 15:37 22 Jul 2013

    This is an article about Man Utd trying to sign a player. Wind ups, trolling or whatever can be entertaining, often provoking the response that the poster was looking for. However, I think most would agree to bring up disasters that have affected so many people well and truely over steps the line.

  • Comment posted by User0315313900, at 21:13 22 Jul 2013

    I'm a cardiff fan, so I'm neutral when it comes to these Man U v LFC disputes. Two things I can say, though:

    (1) Manchester United have been the dominant force in English football for most of my adult life. Unarguable.

    (2) Man U fans are generally unpleasant showoffs, glory hunters, bullies and fools, the kind of people you avoid in pubs. They talk a lot about heritage, but don't understand it.

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