Barcelona captain Carles Puyol has accused Arsenal of depriving Cesc Fàbregas of "coming home to the best club in the world."
Arsenal have already rejected a bid from the Spanish champions and have reiterated that the 23-year-old will not be leaving the club this summer.
Puyol spent the last six weeks with Fàbregas as the pair helped Spain win the World Cup in South Africa and the defender has no doubts that his compatriot is keen on a move to the Camp Nou.
He said in The Daily Star: "Cesc is a really nice guy and desperate to become a Barcelona player.
"But he is not the sort of player to be ruthless and start using the media to get him the move that he wants.
"There are many players who would try all sorts of tricks to make it impossible to ever play for Arsenal again but that is not his style.
"I think Arsenal need to respect his class and show the same class by giving the guy who has given so much to them the move that he and his family want.
"He isn't just being deprived of moving to the best club in the world. More importantly, he is being deprived of coming home."
And the Spain defender is convinced that even if Fàbregas doesn’t move this summer, he will return to his boyhood club next year.
Puyol added: "He is the future of Barcelona and Arsenal can't do anything to stop that.
"I have just spent six weeks with him and there is only one club he wants to be at.
"The worst-case scenario is that we have to wait another 12 months for him to join us – but Arsenal, Barcelona and Cesc know that is the very worst-case scenario."
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Arsenal have already rejected a bid from the Spanish champions and have reiterated that the 23-year-old will not be leaving the club this summer.
Puyol spent the last six weeks with Fàbregas as the pair helped Spain win the World Cup in South Africa and the defender has no doubts that his compatriot is keen on a move to the Camp Nou.
He said in The Daily Star: "Cesc is a really nice guy and desperate to become a Barcelona player.
"But he is not the sort of player to be ruthless and start using the media to get him the move that he wants.
"There are many players who would try all sorts of tricks to make it impossible to ever play for Arsenal again but that is not his style.
"I think Arsenal need to respect his class and show the same class by giving the guy who has given so much to them the move that he and his family want.
"He isn't just being deprived of moving to the best club in the world. More importantly, he is being deprived of coming home."
And the Spain defender is convinced that even if Fàbregas doesn’t move this summer, he will return to his boyhood club next year.
Puyol added: "He is the future of Barcelona and Arsenal can't do anything to stop that.
"I have just spent six weeks with him and there is only one club he wants to be at.
"The worst-case scenario is that we have to wait another 12 months for him to join us – but Arsenal, Barcelona and Cesc know that is the very worst-case scenario."
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Related links:
Team
Personal
Also see:
- Arsène Wenger's fury over Cesc Fábregas saga
- Cesc Fábregas on verge of Arsenal stay
- Messi & Busquets wants Fàbregas deal
- Andrés Iniesta wants Barcelona to bring Cesc Fàbregas home
- Fàbregas will certainly leave Arsenal, says Martin Keown
- Arsenal 'resolutely reject' Barcelona's bid for Cesc Fábregas
- Barcelona make first bid to sign Cesc Fàbregas
- Cesc Fábregas' future in the hands of Arsène Wenger
- Fàbregas will stay with Arsenal - Robert Pires
- Former Arsenal manager blasts Cesc Fàbregas
- Cesc Fábregas nears Barcelona return?
- Joan Laporta: Cesc Fàbregas has Barcelona DNA
- Piqué: Cesc will end up wearing Barcelona shirt
