FCBARCELONA.CAT

07.06.2010 18:38

“We’ll try and make Arsenal change their minds”

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Club president Joan Laporta spoke to reporters on Monday about the on-going Cesc Fàbregas saga and assured us that Barca would not be rushed into a signing that just about everyone here wants to see go ahead.

Several days ago, Barca made a formal offer to Arsenal which the London club immediately rejected saying that the midfielder was not for sale. Speaking on Monday, Mr Laporta told us: The conversations with Arsenal are at a stage where both sides have made the first move – we made an offer and they turned it down. We’re still interested and we respect their position but we’ll try and make them change their minds”.

A difficult situation

However, Mr Laporta denied rumours that the deal was going through sooner rather than later: “It would be precipitous to say that this will be sorted out in 48 hours. Everyone knows the difficulties there are in any operation where, though the player wants the move, the club defends its own interests”. And what would he do if he were in Arsenal’s position? “If one of my players who had done everything for the club, who was the team captain, told the club that his time had come to an end, I would immediately open the doors for him while defending the interests of the club”.

Unanimous support for Cesc signing

”It would be good if this could be done before the World Cup. It’s something all the presidential candidates want, the manager wants and the director of sport wants”. However, he made it clear that even if the deal can’t be done this week he’ll keep on trying: “According to Club statutes, I remain president until 30th June. Until then I’ll do what’s in the best interests of the Club”.