Source: Daily_Mail
David Villa joins Barcelona in £34m deal with Cesc Fabregas in line to follow him
David Villa will be unveiled as a Barcelona player on Friday afternoon after completing a £34million transfer from Valencia. [LNB]The Spain striker - who had also been wanted by Manchester United and Chelsea - had long been linked with an exit after five seasons at the Mestalla, but preferred to stay in La Liga than move to England.[LNB]Villa is believed to have signed a four-year deal worth £115,000 a week at the Nou Camp and his former club president confirmed interest from the Barclays Premier League.[LNB][LNB] Done deal: Villa will complete his move to Barca after he completes a medical on Friday [LNB]Manuel Llorente said: 'It's a good sale and a necessary sale because of the economic situation of the club. It was a painful decision to make but it had to be made.[LNB]'There were important offers, most of all from an English team - and I'm not referring to Chelsea. But Barca's was the best and especially for the player, who wanted to stay in Spain.'[LNB]See you next year David: Villa will team up with world footballer of the year Lionel Messi [LNB]Villa will undergo a medical on Friday to complete a deal which could rise to over £42million. The news comes as Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas is angling for a move back to the Spanish giants. [LNB]A statement on Barcelona's official website read: 'FC Barcelona andValencia CF closed a 40 million euro deal for Spanish striker DavidVilla on Wednesday morning. [LNB]'The Spanish international is due in Barcelona on Thursday evening and will have a medical on Friday morning. 'Villa will be officially unveiled as a Barca player at 1330 in the Paris Room of the Camp Nou. [LNB]'He'll then make an appearance on the Camp Nou pitch. The stadium doors will be opened to the public.' [LNB]The 28-year-old scored 107 goals in 166 league matches for Valencia after establishing himself with Real Zaragoza. He is a regular in Spain's first-team and was a member of the Euro 2008-winning squad.[LNB]In an open letter, he said: I get a lot of feelings, leaving many friends, but knowing that it is good for the club. At Valencia I have grown as a player and as a person. At Valencia I have felt at home from day one and nobody will doubt it to be that way forever.[LNB]'I want everyone to know that it has been a great source of pride for me to wear this shirt. It has given me so much and I will always carry it in my heart.[LNB] Best foot forward: Villa never really fancied a move away from Spain[LNB]'I leave with the satisfaction that the club has returned to where it deserves to be every year - fighting among the best in Europe in the Champions League.[LNB]'I would like to send a big hug to all the fans who have always given so much love, from the day of my presentation until the last match at the Mestalla.[LNB]'Also to all my colleagues who have helped me to improve, to all the technical staff I have worked with and to the leaders, especially (Valencia president) Manuel Llorente, and employees, with whom I have worked side by side.'[LNB]Villa's arrival is likely to lead to increased speculation over the futures of Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.[LNB]Outgoing president Joan Laporta yesterday claimed the club were 'satisfied' with the 21-goal contribution of Ibrahimovic in his first season since arriving from Inter Milan last summer. [LNB]Henry appears on the verge of a move to Major League Soccer, with Laporta also revealing there was 'a lot of interest' in the France forward from the United States. [LNB]Zlat's your lot: Ibrahimovic and Henry could leave the Nou Camp this summer [LNB]Villa, top scorer at Euro 2008 despite missing the final through injury, was heavily linked with a move away from the Mestalla last summer to ease Valencia's financial troubles. [LNB]He reportedly attracted interest from clubs such as Real Madrid,Manchester United and Chelsea as well as Barca, but ultimately stayedput and insisted he was happy to do so. [LNB]'There is notrain missed because all I have achieved is because of Valencia and theSpain national team so I do not think any train has passed,' he saidlast July. [LNB]'I had the desire to remain here and I want tospend all my sporting career here. 'I also never wanted to be a problemfor the club. The fans have always treated me well because of myperformance, because I have sweated in this shirt and that is what Iwill continue to try to do.'[LNB] Cesc is going home to Barcelona: all that's left is for Arsenal to agree a fee Barca promise to respect Arsenal - as they step up bid to take Fabregas homeCesc Fabregas Barcelona deal hit by Yaya Toure snubbing Arsenal for better offers - as Manchester City eye IvorianARSENAL FC
