Arsène Wenger's fury over Cesc Fábregas saga

Updated: 01 May, 2012 • 0 • min read

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Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has called for a stop to "unneeded talk" linking Cesc Fàbregas with a move to Barcelona and is confident his captain will stay put.

The Spanish champions have been trying to persuade the Gunners to sell Fábregas this summer with a string of Barça players, many of whom are international team-mates of the World Cup winner, urging the Spaniard to complete a move "home" to the club he left as a 16-year-old.

Fábregas has previously suggested he would be keen to return to Camp Nou, but Arsenal remain determined to retain the services of their captain and are reported to have already knocked back one £30 million offer.

New Barça president Sandro Rosell has now all-but conceded defeat in his bid to sign the 23-year-old this year and Wenger is hoping the rumours will grind to a halt.

Speaking after a friendly win at League Two side Barnet, Wenger said: "There was a lot of unneeded talk. It is not pleasant to read that every day. Now, the story has to stop.

"Cesc is our captain, he is so important to us and we want to keep him, that is why we were not listening to any offers.

"It was not a problem of money, just the desire to keep him at the club.

"We can only influence our own behaviour and I believe things have now gone straight again with Sandro Rosell.

"We always had a consistent attitude and were always reluctant to talk about Cesc's departure."

Wenger added: "We have shown our love and care for Cesc since the start.

"I believe Cesc loves the club, has shown his attachment to the club many times and I am very confident the story will end there.

"We want Cesc to be part of our club next year, and that is it."

Whether or not Fábregas can be persuaded to stay on for at least one more season remains to be seen, with the Spaniard not due to link up with the Arsenal squad again until the Emirates Cup on July 31 and August 1.