You are no legend, Cesc
Even as club captain, you did not do enough to safeguard the interest of the club PHOTO: AFP
Dear Cesc,
It seems that you’ve decided to return to Barcelona, your boyhood club where you took your first formative steps in football, which also happens to be the place of residence for your family. Fair enough.
And who could blame you? Who wouldn’t want to play for the world champions, the team that plays the ‘most attractive football,’ the one that is being heralded as ‘the greatest team in history’ by pundits world over. The team in which more than half your World Cup winning Spanish teammates play. Kudos to you for attracting an interest from a team of that stature.
I would like to first off thank you for the amazing eight years you have given to Arsenal football club. From the time you first dictated that game at Cardiff against Manchester United when you were only 16, the world knew you were a rare gem waiting to be unearth. You were a player who played with maturity and grace beyond his years no doubt.
I will never forget that European night at Highbury, when at just 17, you humbled the legend Patrick Vieira against Juventus. I will never forget that away goal at the San Siro against AC Milan, nor will I forget that amazing 20-minute cameo against Villa at The Emirates. I’ll never forget that strike from long range at The Lane against Tottenham, and I certainly won’t forget that solo goal from the halfway line straight from the kick-off! And I definitely won’t ever forget that penalty you took against (ironically enough) Barcelona with a broken leg. I feel lucky to have watched you grow up under the tutelage of Arsenal all these years.
Most of all Cesc, I’ll miss your sheer quality and class.
You made ridiculously difficult passes look ridiculously easy. You even somehow managed to ghost passed defenders – without even being a dribbler. You were definitely a cut above other Premier League players of your era. And for all that, I must say Cesc – thanks for the memories.
But despite doing all that you have done for us, I have to say – don’t kid yourself, you’re no legend!
Cesc, first and foremost, I hate the way this whole protracted transfer saga has dragged on for the better part of the last two years. The one’s who got the worst deal out of your transfer are undoubtedly the club and the fans (who happen to be fans of you as well). And though there were many factors involved in the whole fiasco, I firmly believe that you had a huge hand to play in it as well.
It seems you have forgotten that Barcelona deemed you persona non grata when you were just 15! That’s right, your boyhood club willingly offloaded you to the highest bidder, who turned out to be Arsenal, back when you hadn’t even been given a chance to prove yourself to the first team. Instead, Arsene Wenger spotted you, groomed you and gave you first-team chances the very next year.
Secondly, contrary to what others might think, you’ve done a huge disloyalty to Arsenal by making your love for Barcelona clear and essentially ruling out a chance for potential interest from other clubs. There is no doubt in my mind that you are aware that the £35m being dished out for you is an absolute steal for a player of your value. Instead of doing Arsenal a service by at least putting yourself on the market (even if you had your heart set on Barca), we might just have received a proper transfer fee for a player of your quality.
Which actually brings up another interesting point – why would you want to go to a team that isn’t even willing to pay your actual value? A lack of funds is no excuse either, seeing as though they’ve already dished out a similar package for Alexis Sanchez, who no doubt exceptional in his own light, is not on your level Cesc.
What is most distressing Cesc is that even as club captain, you did not do enough to safeguard the interest and integrity of the club. You must also (no doubt) be aware that your departure right now, when first team football isn’t even promised in Barca, leaves Arsenal and the man who made you what you are today (Arsene Wenger) in a very precarious situation. Whether it was refusing to rule out a move in public, reiterating your love for Arsenal albeit wanting a move to essentially get Barca to loosen their pockets, or just simply being unable to tell your Catalan mates to tone it down a level, the way you’ve acted has been absolutely treacherous.
Which makes one think – you probably wanted all this speculation in the first place, as it served as a smokescreen for your real intentions and served as the perfect tactic to engineer this sort of move while keeping your integrity with Arsenal and it’s fans intact.
And therefore Cesc I must say, thanks for the memories, but you’re no legend.
Sincerely,
A Gunner for life
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of The Express Tribune.
Very lame article by an arsenal fan obviously in denial
what i dont get is the money paid for cesc is ridiculous when Kaka can bag such huge sum 3 years ago , I guess cesc was one of the best midfielders in epl but only 29 million euros are u kidding me .. Well arsenal and even epl is goint to miss himRecommend
Being a Man Utd, I really liked what you’ve written. Sadly, these days football is hardly about loyalty to the clubs but more about fame, glory and money.Recommend
@ saqib.
I do agree that he hurt the club by not letting it be a ‘competitive’ bid, but i dont think that it is his fault that Arsenal and Wenger are in such a precarious situation right now. I believe this transfer saga was on from what 2 years ago? Right? Does’nt that give Arsene Wenger enough time for a replacement, and that too for a player you deem ‘..not a legend’.?Recommend
That’s modern football mate. If you want loyalty, get a dog instead. Apart from few teams, its mostly about dishing out as much money as you can and buy success.
Of course we all know the hurt that was visible in the Wenger’s words when he said, ‘we nurture them for years and years and then this happen’. Just for this very reason I want Arsenal to succeed this year. Wenger deserves a successful season even if comes through a lack-luster team. Success hides most of the gaping wounds.
All the best for 2011/2012.Recommend
nice article ..and ur spot on.. he isnt a Legend ..the likes of bergkamps and henrys can never be compared to cesc.Recommend
He chose to leave Barca at 16 as he would not play in front of Xavi, Riquelme,Iniesta and Ronaldinho, he never got the boot manRecommend
Barca didn’t think he was worthless, the law prevents Spanish teams from signing players to full contracts until their older. We (Arsenal) took advantage of that.Recommend
Well said. unfortunately Cesc had no competition at Arsenal. His starting job was over guaranteed. You cannot expect him to develop with no one to challenge him for his spot or better yet to consistently bring out the best in him. Plus, Wenger making Cesc captain was way of attempting to keep him at the club longer. Cesc had to go, his decision was not based on money, but rather an attempt to be among the world elite, which he will be capable of at Barca. Arsenal Legend (almost), Barca future legend (definitely).
Another Gunner For Life!Recommend
Bitter Betty. That’s all that this author is. The facts are entirely wrong. Barcelona did not offload Cesc to the highest bidder. Wenger took advantage of a power vacuum at Camp Nou, as Laporta et al. were ousting President Nunez, to play on Cesc’s fears that he’d never be good enough to play for Barcelona’s first team. Wenger also availed himself of the loophole that allows a player to sign a professional contract at the age of 16 in the UK, while the corresponding age in Spain is 18. So, let’s be clear, Barcelona never wanted to part with Fabregas. Further, Cesc made it clear from Day One that he wanted to return to Camp Nou at some point in his career. It was never a questions of “if” Cesc would return to Catalunya, only a question of “when”. Arsenal got a good eight years out of Cesc, but ultimately couldn’t give him what a player of his abilities deserves: titles. Don’t blame Barcelona for Arsenal’s failures.Recommend
Spot on, my friend. Cesc left us Gooners out in the cold. He left Arsene Wenger in an untenable position. And he left the club almost without a chance in its first two League matches. All this so that he could ride the bench in Barca for less money?
Seems like he has a thirst for trophies. But, Cesc, wouldn’t trophies feel better if you had won them as Captain, rather than as a bit player?
I say, finish what you start. Apparently Cesc doesn’t agree.Recommend
I love this. Cesc should read this !Recommend
Well said, dont kiss the badge if you dont mean to follow up on the gesture.Recommend
Woe to all those who are disloyal to the Gunners!
Hail Arsenal!Recommend
One week one trophy one goal. He is a legend already in Catalonia and who if we’re really being honest wouldn’t want to be on one of the best teams in history with childhood friends living and playing in your hometown which just happens to be beautiful and sunny Barcelona. I’m sorry you guys are so bitter but he served you guys well and took a pay cut to come home and have an excellent chance top win multiple titles in his carer. Let’s be honest If you guys are lucky perhaps you will hold onto your CL spot. Good Luck to you.Recommend
though i am not an arsenal fan … but i liked your article, no body liked all this drama around his transfer.. he made a joke of himself, his team and his manager … and personally i dont like man u beating a depleted arsenal side :) … it wud have been fun if arsenal had been a bit stronger …Recommend
ARE YOU SERIOUS? lol you know nothing about football it seems…. how can you blame Cesc for only wanting to play for barcelona? i’m sorry that there is still players that prefer making less money and playing for barcelona than going to chelsea for 60 millions and getting rich every week. How can you blame cesc when Arsenal did not even pay one million for Cesc when he was 16 . In my opinion and in the opinion of the facts Arsenal will be 35 millions richer thanks to taking Fabregas from his homeclub when he was only 16. 36 millions for free. and one more thing you are acting as if Cesc went to barcelona and chose them over his “love” arsenal. First of all Cesc is a Barcelona fan ..he has always been a fan since little..his whole family is barcelona fans… arsenal it’s not cesc’s favorite club…it’s barcelona . the club of his dreams is barcelona. You should be thanksful that he has respect for arsenal and doesn’t say or act like the likes of kun aguero, torres or adebayor. Arsenal fans need to get over themselves and stop blaming Cesc for what Arsene is to blame for. It’s not Cesc’s fault that Arsenal have become losers and cheap and won’t spend a penny on a quality player instead wenger looks like a child molester going around signing 15 years old so that when they become good or turn 20 will leave the club.Recommend
@Messi:
lol…wao …it took 8 yrs to return to his love BArca ..:P …..bro.. Its all about money and fame !!Recommend
gunners are so whiny :P …
take care..
happy crying!Recommend
Supposing Arsenal would’ve gotten a higher price for Cesc, would it have made any difference to Wenger’s policy of not buying experienced, quality players? I’m afraid no. Fabregas served Arsenal FC well in his eight years as a return for the first-team experience the club offered him. He now needed to grow as a player and win some trophies on the way, Wishing him best of luck for the future.
P.S: I’m an Arsenal fanRecommend
A lame article by a desperate GUNNERs Fan..
Dude, grow up and let CESC, make room for trophies ;)
He has already earned 2 trophies in just 2 matches.. He is a world-class player, no doubt about it but while his mates in MANU and BARCA were busy winning laurels and trophies, he was busy in fancy football that have yielded nothing for 6 years.
Really, as my friend has mentioned above you don’t know a anything about football. Just because you have right to BLOG ov EXPRESS TRIBUNE, doesn’t mean that you vomit your personal frustration over here.. I really liked one comment above “That’s modern football mate. If you want loyalty, get a dog instead. “Recommend
Dude for the love of the game…. ” GHASS KHAO!”Recommend
@Messi
Your name says it all.Recommend
You even got your facts wrong about the circumstances that brought your ex-captain to your club. Barca never want to sell Cesc, so how can he be sold to the highest bidder? The entire process was actually behind the back of Barca, and when they found out, Arsene already messed with Cesc’s head and eventually he left for nothing to join Arsenal. Only upon a complaint by Barca to the footballing authority did Arsenal pay Barca a small amount of compensation. Learn the truth first before you write, please.Recommend
@Docciavelli:
bench warmer? are you out of your mind or is it your only consolation?
You obviously have a tunnel vision and can’t really see what Barcelona has in stores. In coming years Barcelona are likely to change their game drastically. Its about treating the whole field as one giant midfield. With more than a couple of versatile play makers. They sort of demonstrated this towards the end of 2ng Leg of Super Cup, i.e., a formation of 4-3-2-1 with Cesc in attacking midfield role right infront of Xavi, Ineista and Busquet. Guardiola didn’t pursue him 2 years just to make him a bench warmer.Recommend
Get a life you guys its not like it was his country or he was born there he was born in spain soooooo…………!!!cesc was playing at arsenal for money/glory/fame ………..!!!CLUB footy is about fame ……..!!! I always witness some LIVERPOOL fan’s blabbering about torres/TRANSFER …….!!!you guys need to chill……….!!!its just club football…….!!!CESC GAINED MY RESPECT WHEN HE SCORED THAT PENALTY WITH A HAIRLINE FRACTURE ………….!!!STFU GUYS JUST ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL GAME………..!!!!Recommend
loser articleRecommend
i dont think you understand the term proffersional sport=SRecommend
You are a no fan, Stop reading Goal.com and start reading Football365Recommend
Ronaldo left for Madrid, didnt see United Fans calling him traitor…Appreciate what Cesc had given you…Being a United Fan I still see a hole in both the midfileds left by Keane and Viera which even today remains to be filled, that FIRE which they had is lacking in United v Arsenal matches!Recommend
glory glory man united…. cesc was always a barcelona player at heart every game he played day in and day out he had kept thinking dear God hope the scouts in spain are watching. guess what they were =DRecommend
Lame and useless. I think what this whiny author’s trying to say here is “Cesc, you ditched my team, well I didn’t like you in the first place”. Grow up man! Chelsea’s seen bad days, Liverpool are seeing bad days and you’re hung over Cesc’s transfer. You need a girl, or a life.Recommend
You cant blame a man for following his dreams. Agreed that a couple of (probably a couple of million) hearts were broken by the signing, but still….. it was his dream to play for the club and he made it clear.Recommend
Fab even after knowing that he will really need to work hard day-in and day-out and compete with the likes of iniesta, xavi to get a first team chance at camp nou left for barca speaks volume about his goals and ambitions. IMO he has given himself a greater challenge and will eventually come out as a much better and refined product at his boyhood club.
Mr.Gunner, let me ask you a simple question, even in your own career when given the opportunity will you refuse a job offer from any of a Fortune 500? everyone aims to go up in their career ladder except those who dont have any motivation or any energy left to explore themselves. Likewise Football is his career and he has moved to a better club and you accept that also in your artilce so just bid him a nice farewell and wish him goodluck.Recommend
Is your letter for Samir Nasri ready yet? :)Recommend
A long time has been passed i have’t heard from any Arsenal fan “In Arsene we Trust”.
Fabregas is the world class CM player who wants to lift silverware like every other player around the world. 8 years has been passed without any trophy in his hand, He don’t want that his name will vanish from the books of history.
i think he made a perfect decision by leaving Arsenal. Spain is his home and Barca is his boyhood club. i am still unable to figure out why people are criticizing his move everyone wants fame and glory.
So Arsenal fans you have to wait for another decade without any cheers or celebration,Recommend
It might be football where players play for money/fame etc etc but when the player fans love the most leaves you when you really need him…it breaks hearts m8. Cesc no doubt is a good player but wud never be a legend.
In ARSENE WE TRUST….Recommend
Being an Arsenal fan myself, I have to quite emphatically disagree.
During the entire (two year long) transfer saga, Fabregas never once complained about Arsenal, Wenger, or the fans. Despite a transfer request handed in, and Wenger’s refusal to sell Cesc last year, Fabregas played like a captain last year (just like he had before). He was on contract, so any deal that would have been reached would have been determined by Wenger, his agent and Barcelona. I am positive that given his love for Barcelona, his obvious aim was to play for the club rather than get a big bonus, mitigating your other point that he deliberately waved off interest from other clubs. Also, a player does not decide what his transfer fee should be. The clubs do.
Nor did he need a ‘smokescreen’. You yourself have pointed out that it’s a very obvious – and in no way sinister – thing to want to play for Barcelona, especially given his Catalan roots. There was no need for – and there haven’t been – the kind of shenanigans that you describe.
In fact, Cesc has to be respected for the unimpeachable conduct that he has displayed throughout the saga. Nasri, on the other hand, has described Arsenal’s fans as not being ‘passionate’ enough. The truth is, that in this day and age when expensive players are the playthings of Sheikhs and Russian oligarchs, Fabregas is a wonderful example of the heart and goodness a player can exude. It kills me to see him in a Barça shirt, but I wish him a wonderful time at the Camp Nou.
So long Cesc. You’re a true legend.Recommend
as a fellow arsenal fan, it actually pains me to see this club in shambles. people see it as more of a finishing school rather than a top quality club. players are leaving at the ripe age of 23-24 when they’re supposed to play the best football. this is because wenger isnt investing in top quality players like veira and henry anymore, rather more interested in getting a bargain. we desperately need a top quality center back (arsenal defence is practically non-existent) and though van persie is a fine forward he is injured far too often. chamakh is a good header of the ball but lacks precision otherwise.
wenger may have had ample time to replace cesc but the problem was that he probably felt that nasri would eventually take his place, before of course he started vying fot man city, aaron ramsey too would’ve been the one to replace him had it not been for the horrific injury at stoke, so wenger did have a succession planned out, it just turned out horribly wrong. What he needs now, is to get players to want to stay after they’ve been groomed. he needs to go out and buy top quality players. and while cesc was no henry or veira, he was the sole world quality player arsenal had. and yes, im going to miss him, his class and elegance, is ease and creativity. but arsenal need to move on from this because no player is bigger than the club. and to move on wenger needs to change his strategyRecommend
I STRONGLY DISAGREE … I played his heart out for Arsenal each time he played for the club… and he did justice for all 8 years.. now that he wants to return to his home team.. u cant blame him for being greedy, selfish or anything like that..Recommend
In my last comment it was *he played his heart out…. sorry about the mistakeRecommend
im not saying that he didnt play his best while at arsenal. im actually a huge admirer of his. what i actually meant was that midfielders are at their prime in their late-20s and while cesc has given his all to the club uptill now, his best years will be at barcelona. same goes for nasri. sorry for not being clear enough.
also im not in anyway saying anything against him leaving. barcelona is his home and right now the best team in the world, he’s young and wants to win. its understandable. i meant that wenger needs to change his philosophy and bring in more experienced, world class players, who yes demand higher pays but also bring much more quality rather than investing in JUST bargains, who will probably only start bringing in trophies 4 years down the line. its already been 6 years since arsenal last won a trophy, add a couple more and thats just too long for a top level clubRecommend
The idea about all this saga being just a move by Cesc to keep the Arsenal fan’s support really put me into thinking… After all his return to Barcelona was certain.Recommend
IMO he is an arsenal legend. Atleast more so than vieira who didn’t return to arsenal when wenger offered him a coaching role but went to Manchester city instead. Nasri said that he joined man city because vieira convinced him to join them.
Henry and Cesc to me are arsenal legends.
Don’t forget in this day and age to spend 8 years at a football club is not that common. Cesc gave everything for arsenal. He is returning to his country, his childhood club to play for his childhood football idol Pep Guardiola. He only wanted to go to Barcelona no where else because it’s his club.. There’s nothing wrong with that.
Just like Ronaldo said it was his dream he wanted to play for Real although United got 80m for him so it wasn’t that bad for us.
These European and south american footballers have a dream to play for Real Madrid and Barcelona and AC Milan. They don’t follow the english leagues when they are growing up they want to play at the clubs where their idols played. Like Ronaldinho, like Ronaldo(Brazilian), Rivaldo, Zidane.Recommend
Dude transfers happen all over the footballing world so common your not bound for life at one place also Wenger is keen in polishing youngsters but he does not have the capacity now to keep them at the club after shaping them, as also in the case of Nasri who has left the club for Man City like you needs to shape a team which is successful and for three seasons Arsenal has been without any major medal, Common who would stay in a club like this.Recommend
Amazing how the ‘bench-warmer’ is scoring goals at ease. that’s a big LOL to you.Recommend
Okay, I read just first two lines of letter. What a waste of time and space!Recommend
Well, you cannot blame Cesc for what he did. Every footballer wants to win silverware. He waited for six long years before making his move. Instead of blaming Fabreagas you should have a good and hard look at your club’s transfer policy.Recommend
Blame Wenger! His rigid transfer policy along with sheer arrogance depicted in his tactics on the pitch, it is no surprise that cesc and Nasri left for else where. For fabregas, he wouldn’t have shifted clubs at a much better time. In a matter of just few days he has earned 2 trophies, and that is solely the reason behind his departure.Recommend
Some of the facts are off, but an excellent article nonetheless. Cesc did behave dishonorably; Nasri is even more culpable. Having said that, Wenger and the board are also much to blame; players don’t want to stay at a permanently losing team, and lets face it, they simply aren’t willing to spend, for whatever reasons, and its showing even more now. Difficult times ahead.
Another GunnerRecommend