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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: I always said Barcelona target Cesc Fabregas would remain at the club
Manager asks for respect after Barca's chase...
30 Jul 2010 17:55:00
By Matt Monaghan
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has defiantly stated he always believed Cesc Fabregas "would be our captain next year" and demanded respect after Barcelona's public courting.
Fabregas, 23, has been chased by the La Liga champions all summer after he had reportedly told the Frenchman of his desire to leave. A £29 million bid was rejected last month, but players and officials from the Barca camp have continued to mount a campaign to force through the switch.
Speaking to Sky Sports News in a press conference to promote this weekend's Emirates Cup, Wenger insisted he had always kept faith Fabregas would be in his side next season and declared the Gunners "deserve respect" be shown.
"I always said that Cesc Fabregas would be our captain next year, that we want to keep him and, despite all the speculation that has happened throughout the whole summer, nothing has changed," Wenger said.
"I would say I believe Arsenal deserves respect and if the players make some statements and jokes we can do exactly the same.
"I believe we have to live with that and not complain too much."
The most controversial attempt to bring Fabregas to the Nou Camp came when potential club-mates Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol forced a Barca shirt over the player's head during celebrations for Spain's World Cup 2010 victory.
Wenger refused to condemn the behaviour and believed it was nothing more than a joke amongst friends.
He stated: "It's part of a celebration. They are not always the most wanted, but you can understand things like that when you are friends.
"It has nothing to do with his behaviour. He has always said he is committed to the club and he has always shown it.
"The best way to show you are committed to a club is when you walk on the pitch, that you give your best for the club. He has always done that."
In recent weeks, both Xavi and Puyol have said that Fabregas' transfer will happen in a year's time if no movement is made in the current window. Citing the length of the midfielder's contract - which runs until 2015 - Wenger blasted these claims.
"If you look at the length of his contract you will see he has five years to go. When you sign the contract for long period it means we are committed to the player no matter what happens, to pay him and keep him," the Frenchman added.
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Fabregas, 23, has been chased by the La Liga champions all summer after he had reportedly told the Frenchman of his desire to leave. A £29 million bid was rejected last month, but players and officials from the Barca camp have continued to mount a campaign to force through the switch.
Speaking to Sky Sports News in a press conference to promote this weekend's Emirates Cup, Wenger insisted he had always kept faith Fabregas would be in his side next season and declared the Gunners "deserve respect" be shown.
"I always said that Cesc Fabregas would be our captain next year, that we want to keep him and, despite all the speculation that has happened throughout the whole summer, nothing has changed," Wenger said.
"I would say I believe Arsenal deserves respect and if the players make some statements and jokes we can do exactly the same.
"I believe we have to live with that and not complain too much."
The most controversial attempt to bring Fabregas to the Nou Camp came when potential club-mates Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol forced a Barca shirt over the player's head during celebrations for Spain's World Cup 2010 victory.
Wenger refused to condemn the behaviour and believed it was nothing more than a joke amongst friends.
He stated: "It's part of a celebration. They are not always the most wanted, but you can understand things like that when you are friends.
"It has nothing to do with his behaviour. He has always said he is committed to the club and he has always shown it.
"The best way to show you are committed to a club is when you walk on the pitch, that you give your best for the club. He has always done that."
In recent weeks, both Xavi and Puyol have said that Fabregas' transfer will happen in a year's time if no movement is made in the current window. Citing the length of the midfielder's contract - which runs until 2015 - Wenger blasted these claims.
"If you look at the length of his contract you will see he has five years to go. When you sign the contract for long period it means we are committed to the player no matter what happens, to pay him and keep him," the Frenchman added.
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