London, July 18 (IANS) Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feels that he has finally won the battle with Barcelona over his captain Cesc Fabregas.
Wenger has consistently refused to entertain Barcelona’s very public approach for the midfielder, even as Fabregas had expressed his desire to return to his childhood club.
Barcelona made their aggressive move for Fabregas under former president Joan Laporta at the end of last season. But Wenger did not budge and after new Barcelona president Sandro Rosell seems to have declared peace, Wenger is delighted to have kept his captain at the club for at least another season.
‘There was a lot of unnecessary talk, but now the talking is over and the story has to stop. I think we were steady and can only influence our own behaviour and not anyone else’s behaviour,’ Wenger was quoted as saying by The Sunday Telegraph.
‘We had a consistent attitude and we were always reluctant to talk about Cesc’s departure and in the end I believe that is how it finished. We didn’t consider the numbers at all. We just considered that we want Cesc to be a part of our club next season and that’s it,’ he said.
Wenger was sure that Arsenal would not be forced to sell their star asset.
Asked if he felt he had stood up to Barcelona’s bullying he said: ‘Yes. It was very important to give that impression and that we will not sell or give in just because a club wants a player from us. We have shown a lot of love and care for Cesc since the start that’s why we are very happy that the story ends like that. I believe Cesc has shown his commitment to us and I do not want to speculate on how he feels.
‘I have spoken to him but I never discuss in public what I say to my players. But the story has to stop. I feel things have gone straight again with Sandro Rosell.’
Wenger also ruled out possibilities that Fabregas may move to Barcelona next summer.
‘I believe we are in a very strong position because we have a strong team, strong financial situation so we can read the speculation at quite a distance. We cannot start talking about next year. We want to build a team for the future and continue to develop our team. We are not in any talks for next year or the year after. We want our players to be focused on the targets we have as a club,’ he said.
