‘Fabregas was worth double the price’
The 24-year-old completed his protracted return to his boyhood team last month — eight years after leaving to sign for the Gunners as a teenager in 2003 — and has made an impressive start to life back in Catalonia.
He scored a stunning goal in the European Super Cup against Porto and also netted against Villarreal on his Primera Division debut, prompting Bartomeu to observe the World Cup winner’s real valuation is closer to the €60m Arsenal initially demanded than the €29m — which could rise to €40m — they eventually got.
“The transfer of Cesc was a very good deal for us,” he said.
“The price on the open market wouldn’t have been €29m, but he lowered his value by saying that he really wanted to go to Barcelona. His real price was what Arsenal initially asked – at least €60m.
“The fact we announced in advance that we would only spend €45m this summer worked to our advantage. Clubs were already aware of our position.”
Bartomeu also remained hopeful coach Pep Guardiola, who has guided Barca to three straight La Liga titles and two Champions League crowns since taking over in summer 2008, will commit to the club beyond this season.
“He’s very smart and he will say [when he’s ready to talk],” said the vice-president. “We will give all the tools so that when we talk it will be very difficult to say no.”
Meanwhile Jack Wilshere is set to stay sidelined until November at best after Arsenal confirmed he needs to rest his injured ankle. But Wilshere, who admits he finds sitting in the stands “massively frustrating”, has vowed to make up for lost time when he returns. And he believes he can carry on where he left off last season, when he became a key member of the Gunners’ midfield and broke into senior England team.
Wilshere, 19, had hoped to be back on duty for club and country by now, after suffering the injury in June.
But he limped off after just seven minutes of Arsenal’s Emirates Cup match with New York Red Bulls in late July and then suffered a setback in training last month.
Manager Arsene Wenger suggested that would keep Wilshere out for “two or three weeks.” However, Arsenal are now predicting he will be absent until November, and Wilshere accepted it could be longer before he returns to action.
An Arsenal spokesman said: “He will be out for a couple more months. He needs to rest and then we will see where he’s at.”
Wilshere wrote on Twitter: “I can confirm I will be out for around 2-3 months! I am working hard in the gym to stay fit and I am gutted but I will be back stronger!”
Wilshere is wearing a protective boot to guard the affected rightankle, which Wenger claims was first injured when the youngster was on England duty against Switzerland.
Wenger won his running battle with England U21 counterpart Stuart Pearce over Wilshere’s selection for the summer’s European Championships in Denmark, but the rest he was able to enjoy in the close season was not sufficient to cure the ankle problem.
He will now miss crucial matches for club and country, including England’s final qualifying group game in Montenegro on October 7, and Champions League and Premier League fixtures with Arsenal.
Speaking on former Gunner Ian Wright’s Absolute Radio show over the weekend, Wilshere stressed Arsenal would not be rushing him back.
“They’re not pushing me at all,” Wilshere said.
“I spoke to the manager and he told me to take my time and come back when I’m ready because there’s no point me coming back and having another six weeks away, so I’m just taking my time and getting ready.”
He finds watching games difficult.
“It’s massively frustrating,” Wilshere said.
“Last year I had a successful season, so it’s even more frustrating because this year I thought I could push on.
“I’ve had a bit of a setback but I’m still feeling good about the season, and hopefully I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
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