Cesc Fabregas warns: We must win silverware

13 April 2012

Cesc Fabregas today claimed he will review his Arsenal future at the end of the season and could quit for Barcelona if the Gunners again fail to win any trophies.

The midfielder said "it would be a dream to return to Barcelona" and is keen to reignite a partnership with the world's most in-form player Lionel Messi after they played together in the same Barca youth team.

His comments will be a major concern to Arsene Wenger as the Arsenal manager seeks to end a run of three seasons without silverware.

Fabregas, who underlined his importance to Arsenal with a last-minute equaliser in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Sunderland, insisted it was his choice to stay with the Gunners last summer and that he has not abandoned the logic that kept him in north London.

His preference is to help his side become more competitive and, ultimately, win silverware. But if he doesn't see Arsenal matching his personal ambition by the end of the season then he would endorse any bids from Spain.

Fabregas said: "Right now I'm fine at Arsenal but I cannot deny that to return and play for Barca would be a dream come true.

"I chose to stay at the club last summer and right now I'm totally focused on the reason for that decision which was to try and win trophies.
"We'll see how things have gone by the end of the season. The fact is that Barça are playing cinematic' football right now and it's fantastic to see that the other day when they beat Atlético Madrid 6-1 they had seven or eight guys who, like me, came through the club's youth system.

"Messi is the best player in the world and he has been for a long time, never mind what people used to think about Ronaldinho in his prime. During Messi's football life I've seen him do incredible things on a football pitch, as a kid or now as a leader of the Barça team."

Fabregas also admitted that he is missing playing alongside midfielder Alex Hleb who left the Gunners for the Nou Camp last summer.

He added: "Every week I chat to Alex Hleb on the phone because he's the guy I most miss at Arsenal. He's a friend and I also loved playing with him.

"He always looks for you with a pass and if you give him the ball you can always count on getting it back at the right time."

Arsenal know that Fabregas has no intention of sulking and demanding a transfer like former Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov, and he remains optimistic about trophy prospects this season.

But playing a bit-part role for Spain in the summer as they won Euro 2008 frustrated him as he didn't command a regular place early on and it re-emphasised his desire to win cups.

In an interview with a Spanish radio station, he added: "There was a benefit for Arsenal in that the fact I didn't play a full role in the summer for Spain in Austria-Switzerland.

"I started the pre-season like a house on fire and was in really good shape, full of the joys of the world after winning the Euro until the injury slowed me down. I had a couple of weeks off and now I'm getting back to my top level."

Admitting that he intended to spend today's flight from Barcelona — where he's spent two days with his parents on the Costa Brava — to Madrid with Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Carles Puyol quizzing them about Barça's form, Fabregas also spoke of his role in saving a point for Arsenal at the Stadium of Light.

He said: "It's only the second time in my entire career that I've scored with a header! The first time was only in Euro 2008 in the summer."

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