Hands off Fabregas or I'll bid for Messi, quips Arsenal boss Wenger

15 August 2009 01:08
Arsene Wenger issued a tongue-in-cheek warning to Barcelona about their pursuit of Cesc Fabregas, saying the chance of the midfielder moving to the Nou Camp is as remote as Lionel Messi joining the Gunners. The Arsenal boss said there was 'no chance' club captain Fabregas, 22, would leave and compared it to the futility of trying to lure Messi, also 22, from Barcelona. Arsenal would need to trigger the 150 million euros (£130m) buy-out clause in the Argentina international's contract to succeed. 'I have made a bid for Messi and nobody speaks about it,' Wenger joked. 'It is the same [as the situation with Cesc]. 'How can people think we will sell Fabregas now, one day before the championship starts? We are not in a weak financial position, we don't need to sell anybody. 'He is committed to the club and he has told me that. We cannot master the noises coming out of Spain. 'This is his sixth year [at Arsenal]. What he wants is to win trophies for the club.' Wenger insisted Arsenal are title contenders this season, but conceded the race for Champions League qualification will be tougher than ever before. 'At the start we race for the top spot,' he said. 'After, the minimal target is the top four but you don't start the season thinking like that. 'Maybe some of our fans have the fear we will drop out of the top four. That's guided by fear, not objective assessment of our performances.'  But Arsenal, who begin their league campaign today at Everton in the 5.30pm kick-off, will feel under pressure to make a good start, having suffered early defeats against Hull City, Fulham and Stoke City last season. 'After 14 games we had lost five and that was too many,' said Wenger. 'At the moment, nobody looks at us as a potential fighter for the championship. I believe we have to keep serene, not put unneeded pressure on our shoulders and focus on how we want to play.'

Source: Daily_Mail