Fabregas has his feet firmly on the ground

CESC FABREGAS believes firing Arsenal to the brink of a Champions League semi-final vindicated his bold decision to leave home at the tender age of 16.

Fabregas has sent shockwaves around Europe with his dazzling display against Juventus.

Newspapers in Italy, France and his native Spain drooled over the talents of the teenage sensation, while Thierry Henry spoke of him in the same breath as Ronaldinho and Wayne Rooney.

Fabregas, aged 18, took a big gamble when he left his home near Barcelona to move to London.

But he said: “It was the right decision, definitely. I am really happy to have made that decision when I was so young. So many people have believed in me so it’s great.”

The modest midfielder is uncomfortable, however, with suggestions he has come of age and matured into Patrick Vieira’s natural successor. “I don’t know and I don’t like it. I have always tried my best. I work hard in every training session and I always give my best. In the last few weeks we have won games and done well and it reflects well on a player individually, but I don’t think that’s fair. It’s the team.

“I am getting better. I feel stronger in training and I am playing better, but it is also because the team is playing well. We are young and improving a lot as a team.”

Captain Henry, also earmarked for greatness as a teenager, insists Fabregas is one of the finest talents he has ever seen.

Henry said: “The whole team played well but you cannot fail to mention Cesc. The way he is playing at the moment is amazing.

“You have players like Wayne Rooney, Patrick Vieira or Ronaldinho who were just like that when they were young. But there are not a lot of them. I hope he has the same career.” Fabregas overshadowed Vieira in midfield as Arsenal beat Juve 2-0 in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final at Highbury. They are players with different styles, but comparisons are inevitable.

The young Spaniard scored the opener with a cool finish under pressure and then set up the second for Henry, with great vision and a clever pass.

Henry said: “I had faith in Cesc but, at the beginning of the season, he wasn’t playing that well and people were having a go at him. Suddenly you play well and people say: ‘What a genius’. In a year’s time if he isn’t playing well they will say: ‘What has happened?’

“He has to cope with this now but he can take it. That’s why he is where he is. Some players just drop if you have a go at them but Cesc can handle it. He is already old in his head. You can see from the way he plays. I just hope he can carry on like that for a long time. Heis doing extremely well but, for now, let the guy grow.”

Arsene Wenger lured Fabregas from Barcelona’s youth ranks at the age of 16. Arsenal had to pay £1 million compensation to the Catalans, but that looks great business now.

It was Wenger’s chief scout Steve Rowley who spotted him playing for Spain’s under-16s against England at Darlington and initiated the move.

Fabregas grew up in Arenys del Mar, a coastal town near Barcelona. There was no local football and his dad set up a five-a-side league to give his son the chance to play competitively.

Fabregas made his debut for Spain this year and has his sights on the World Cup, to end an incredible season.