United’s Fabregas pursuit over

Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta claims Manchester United have accepted defeat in their attempts to sign Cesc Fabregas.

United have already had two bids for Fabregas rejected, with Barcelona consistently insisting the Spain international was not for sale. A possible third United bid for Fabregas, 26, had been mooted but comments from Zubizarreta yesterday suggest the Premier League champions have now decided to end their pursuit of the former Arsenal captain.

Zubizarreta said: “Manchester United are interested in the player, but it’s also true that they understand our position of not wanting to sell. They have renounced his signing.

“We aren’t going to sell him.”

Zubizarreta added: “We count on Cesc. I said that on the day of the presentation of Tito (Vilanova) and also with Tata (new coach Gerardo Martino): He’s an extraordinary player who creates and finishes chances.”

Arsenal are understood to have first option on Fabregas, having sold him to his boyhood club in the summer of 2011, but manager Arsene Wenger echoed Zubizarreta’s stance that the midfielder is going nowhere — at least for now. “What I know is Fabregas will stay one more year at least in Barca,” Wenger said.