Right, let’s start with the whole Arsene Wenger being in Spain business. As reported yesterday on the columns section the boss was seen having dinner with a representative of Joseba Diaz, Cesc’s agent. Diaz also looks after Fran Merida. Marca put 2 and 2 together and reckoned that Arsenal could be selling Cesc to Real Madrid.
AS has gone a step further this morning alleging that Wenger said he’d want Cesc to be part of whatever project he was involved in, whether that was Arsenal or elsewhere. Cesc apparently confided in the boss that he wanted to make a ‘radical change’ in his life and that meant moving back to Spain to play in the Spanish league. That means a possible Wenger-Fabregas package, apparently. It all sounds rather fanciful you have to say, especially when you consider that Wenger also met with the agents of Jose Antonio Reyes to sort out his future.
As well as that Arsene is accompanied by Keith Edelman (plus another Arsenal staff member who was not identified) who is currently doing the work that the tall Oompa Loompa used to do. The idea of him hinting that he could he could offer himself and Cesc as package to a Madrid team that could still win the league under Capello and who have already signed a contract with Bernd Schuster in case they decide to sack the Italian is simply unthinkable.
“Keith, just cover your ears for a minute would you? Cheers! Now Mijatovic, I’ll be your new boss and I can bring Cesc with me and – Keith, no listening. Go ‘lalalalalalala’. Go on. Come oooooooon. Ok. Now, as I was saying…”
Here’s what I think. Wenger is over there to sort out the future of Reyes who could go to Atletico Madrid (who have apparently also expressed an interest in Rosicky), sort out the Baptista situation as well (the fact that Madrid don’t want to keep Reyes means Baptista would cost €20m and Arsenal will not pay that), and met with Cesc’s people as a matter of routine. There’s also the possibility his business with them could have been about Merida or about another young Spaniard we’re about to nick.
The unfortunate thing is that at some stage we are going to lose Cesc back to Spain and that’s what makes anything like this slightly worrying no matter how far fetched it is. That may not happen just yet but long term that’s where he sees his future and that’s fair enough. It’s his home and where his friends and family are. It’s normal. That means the press there, acting for the clubs who want to sign him him, will make the most of any situation and that, I hope, is what they’ve done here. There’s no need for me to say how important he is to us and how much we need to keep him. With an 8 year contract it would take a ridiculously massive offer for us to consider any transfer at this moment in time. However, I think this is the kind of crap we’ll have to go through each summer – is it a small price to pay for having such a talent?
What is disquieting though is that all this is going on when the Spanish league is still underway and seeing the most exciting title race in years. There are 4 teams who can still win it although realistically it’s hard to see Valencia make up the 4 points to the leaders with just three games to go but Barcelona, Sevilla and Real Madrid are all scrapping away. When it’s all over and done with is when the transfer madness usually starts so they’ve gotten off to a flyer this summer. What will it be like in June and July? Doesn’t bear thinking about, does it?!
Staying with Spain, briefly, Samuel Eto’o (seen here weeping, hahaha) says he’d be delighted to welcome Thierry Henry to Barcelona. Silly boy. He might get to welcome him as Henry held the door open for him to go elsewhere because there’s no way Barcelona would have the two them in the same team. Not unless Ronaldinho was sold, to Milan for example.
Tony Adams says he’d love to manage Arsenal one day. Yep. Me too (in that I’d love to manage Arsenal. Tony Adams I can live without).
Robert Preston on the BBC website has a nice piece about the ‘takeover’ of Arsenal and all the share shennanigans that went on. David Dein’s obvious involvement in trying to get Kroenke on board is plain to see and with the Highbury Square development set to bring in profit of £100m in 2009 it’s little wonder the club are so opposed to being bought out and saddled with debt. Honestly, anyone who can’t see that this board are acting in the best interests of Arsenal Football Club is as blind as a bat.
And there you have it. Tomorrow’s Arsecast, all going well, should see a round the table discussion between me, Gunnerblog, East Lower and Goodplaya. We might even sing a barber shop quartet number. Tune in tomorrow for more.
