Arsenal agree to let Cesc go

ARSENAL last night finally accepted defeat in their efforts to keep captain Cesc Fabregas and announced a deal has been reached in principal for Fabregas to return to Barcelona.

Barcelona had seen a £27 million offer rebuffed earlier in the summer as Arsenal remained steadfast in their demands over a £40m fee for their midfielder.

However, with Barcelona not willing to significantly up their cash bid, and Gunners manager Arsene Wenger admitting the player was unsettled, Arsenal reluctantly have allowed a cut-price deal to go through.

The midfielder, who joined the Gunners from Barca as a 16-year-old in 2003, will now agree personal terms and undergo a medical today before sealing his return to the Nou Camp.

After a summer-long fight to keep his talisman, Wenger finally bowed to the inevitable last night and wished Fabregas ‘‘future success’’ at the European champions.

“We have been clear that we didn’t want Cesc to leave and that remains the case,” Wenger said. “However, we understand Cesc’s desire to move to his home town club and have now accepted an offer from Barcelona. We thank Cesc for his contribution at Arsenal and wish him future success.”

It is expected that the World Cup winner will pass all the medical formalities and subsequently put pen to paper on a lucrative five-year deal.

The playmaker, who has been instrumental for the Gunners over the past few seasons, could potentially feature for the Catalan side in their Supercopa second-leg fixture against Real Madrid on Wednesday, the first leg of which was drawn 2-2 last night.

Fabregas had been pushing for a move to Barcelona for the past two summers and last night’s agreement brings an end the most high-profile transfer saga of the close season.

A deal for the 24-year-old looked imminent when he was omitted from the Arsenal squad for Saturday night’s match at Newcastle.

On Thursday, Wenger revealed that Fabregas’ future would be resolved “very quickly”, but on Friday he suggested Fabregas would be staying.

“I expect nobody to leave the club,” Wenger said when asked about the futures of Fabregas and want-away Frenchman Samir Nasri.

When asked if therefore they will stay, Wenger responded: “That’s a good conclusion from my statement.

However, Barcelona were confident they would finally land their man with goalkeeper Victor Valdes stating: “I’m not disclosing anything, but as you know it is advanced, and although it is not official it will surely be closed very soon.”

Barcelona’s central defensive pair Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique then took to Twitter to welcome their Spain colleague back to the Nou Camp.

Captain Puyol posted: “Welcome home!!! Happy to have you here @cesc4official ooohhhh.”

Barcelona’s celebrations were premature and clearly angered Arsenal but Barca have now finally got their man and ended one of the longest transfer sagas of recent times

Fabregas made 303 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 57 goals. He was named the club’s captain in November 2008. Fabregas will be followed out of the club by fellow midfielder Samir Nasri, who is expected to join Manchester City. His departure will increase the pressure from fans on Wenger to use some of the transfer fee to bring in a big-name signing before the end of the transfer window.