It’s hard to consider Cesc Fabregas wanting to leave Barcelona, despite the highs & lows of his time with the club since returning from the Premier League, but it doesn’t mean that he’ll turn down any offer that comes his way, especially if it’s from Manchester United.
This rumor does come from the Sunday Express, which means it’s not the most reputable or having a chance of happening, but it does make the interesting connection between a team with a new manager who knows that it has quite a few problems in the midfield with a player who has been mostly active, but probably feels he isn’t used as much as he would like, and often criticized for sub-par performances.
The projected asking price? Fabregas cost €34 million to bring over from Arsenal in 2011, which looked at first like an incredible deal as Fabregas couldn’t stop scoring. But he’s been shifted around the midfield more than once, and often tried as one of the front trio or as the false 9, a position he plays for Spain as well. Some say Tito Vilanova isn’t his biggest fan, although Fabregas has played in 46 matches this season, adding 13 goals and 12 assists in all competitions, so there’s some appreciation to him.
It’s arguable that the Barcelona system, or the Spanish league in general, simply doesn’t suit him as much as the English game does, where Fabregas was one of the biggest stars in the Premier League for his final four seasons with Arsenal. Playing in a more central, play-making role, one which isn’t available to him at Barcelona as long as Xavi and Andres Iniesta are on the team, he seemed to be a lot more influential, although winning less titles.
United are going to get a quality midfielder this summer, that’s hard to ignore. Their need in the midfield for someone who can both play as link up while providing a bolstering defensive and physical presence is evident, and the Marouane Fellaini option has come up more than others. Fabregas obviously provides a bit more attacking flair, but it’s also rumored that if not him, Real Madrid’s Luka Modric could also become an option as another Premier League exile returning after a disappointing La Liga time.