The Cesc Fabregas Saga - An Explanation

Where is Cesc off to?

With the news breaking that Manchester United have lodged a £30 million bid for Cesc Fabregas, I thought I would write a post explaining how any deal could work.

Arsenal's Position

When Cesc left Arsenal two years ago the Gunners assured that should the Spaniard ever wish to leave his boyhood club they would be right at the front of the queue. Indeed they most certainly are when you examine the deal they have in place.

1) As soon as ANY CLUB bids for Cesc Fabregas, before that club can talk to the player, Barcelona must inform Arsenal of the offer and allow the London side to BUY BACK the Spaniard for £25 million.

Note here however, this is dependent on Cesc wanting to rejoin Arsenal. If he were to say no to Arsenal then Barcelona would be in their rights to listen to other offers.

2) If Barcelona were to SELL Cesc to another club, then Arsenal are entitled to 50% of any profit made from the transfer. This means that as Barcelona bought Cesc for £30 million anything they recoup on top of that original fee, half of that must go to Arsenal.

As you can see Arsenal have got themselves in a very strong position.

So Why Have United Bid?

This is something I have been racking my brains over. United are obviously confident of signing Cesc as they otherwise would not allow such a story to go public. I have devised some scenarios which I think may explain the situation.

1) United believe Cesc will reject the opportunity to rejoin Arsenal, thus allowing them to discuss a fee and terms with Barcelona.

2) United have agreed with Arsenal that if they can have Cesc for £30 million, Arsenal can have Rooney for the same fee.

3) United have activated the buy back clause so that Arsenal can now buy back Cesc for the pre-agreed £25 million, in return the Gunners will no longer show an interest in Rooney.

They are all possibly scenarios, indeed some more far-fetched than others, but United must have some game plan as the whole world knows how difficult it is for anyone other than Arsenal to sign Cesc.

What I Think Will Happen?

Personally I can't see Cesc joining anyone other than Arsenal. On numerous occasions he has said how he would never sign for another English club.

Maybe I'm being bias or not cynical enough about modern footballers, but I just can't see Cesc rejecting Wenger and the club that made him.

Only time will tell, but I expect Cesc will either be at Barca or Arsenal next year.

Thanks for reading, hope this cleared the issue up!

Many thanks,

Come on you Gooners!