Source: Team_Talk
Barca downbeat in Fabregas chase
arcelona's new sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta says he is disappointed Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas left the Catalan club in the first place.[LNB] Fabregas began his career as a youth player at Barca but, believing his first-team opportunities would be limited at the Nou Camp, opted to sign for the Gunners as a 16-year-old.[LNB]Barca now hope to re-sign their former player this summer, but Arsenal appear unwilling to do business and have already rejected a £35m offer from the Catalan giants.[LNB]Zubizarreta admits the signing seems difficult now.[LNB]"The only solution would have been for him not to leave (in the first place)," he told the Spanish press in Seoul, where Barca beat a combined K-League team 5-2.[LNB]Nevertheless, the former Barcelona and Spain goalkeeper believes Fabregas has improved as a player in England, just like defender Gerard Pique did at Manchester United.[LNB]"Pique also went (to England) and then came back to show what a great player he is," added Zubizarreta.[LNB]"Cesc is also a great footballer and perhaps the decision he took to go to Arsenal has made him a better player and a better person."[LNB]Zubizarreta, who made over 300 appearances for Barca and won the European Cup with the Catalans in 1992, believes the club should be able to hold on to their brightest young talents in future.[LNB]"Any player from the youth system would like to be at a club like Barcelona, where it seems easy for them to play in the first team - other teams don't give so many opportunities to homegrown players," he said.
