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29 March 2024

Arsenal's Fabregas to miss start of season

Arsenal rejected a third bid for Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona. (FILE)

Published
By Agencies

Cesc Fabregas was left out from Arsenal’s squad for Saturday’s final pre-season friendly against Benfica in the latest twist to the saga featuring the Spain midfielder who is also expected to miss the start of the Premier League season, according to reports.

However, Arsene Wenger has insisted there was no ulterior motive behind the absence of wantaway captain Fabregas from Arsenal’s squad for the trip to Portugal.

The unsettled Spain midfielder had been all smiles as he joined in with the rest of the Gunners squad for training at London Colney on Friday morning ahead of the flight to Portugal, but was not on the list of players the Gunners confirmed as having actually made the trip in the evening.

Wenger had last week purposely omitted the Arsenal skipper from the Emirates Cup, admitting the player had become unsettled by continued speculation over a move back to Barcelona.

However, the Gunners boss insisted the latest decision not to involve his key man was down purely to the fact Fabregas was struggling to recover from a hamstring problem which also prevented him from travelling on the tour of Asia last month.

“He is just coming back from injury and is not ready to play in a game, but he is not injured,” Wenger told a pre-match news conference in Lisbon, reported on arsenal.com.

“I do not want to speak about the transfer of Fabregas because I have done that three years now in every press conference so I don’t think there is any more need to add something.

“I love Fabregas and I want him to stay, that is basically it.

“Everybody is free to think what they want. We cannot stop people raising questions.”

Barcelona have already seen their latest £35 million offer rejected, but remain determined to bring their former trainee back to the Nou Camp. Arsenal, though, are standing firm in their £40 million valuation.

Fabregas is now unlikely to lead the team out at St James Park for the opening match of the Barclays Premier League season at Newcastle next weekend.

“I don’t think Fabregas will be ready to start the season because he has been out for a long time and has had no games,” Wenger said.

If he played in Arsenal’s Champions League play-off against Udinese, the midfielder would then be cup-tied were a move to go through ahead of the August 31 transfer deadline.