Arsenal insist captain Cesc Fabregas is NOT leaving for Real Madrid

Arsenal have moved to quash fresh speculation linking their captain Cesc Fabregas with a move back to his homeland with either Real Madrid or Barcelona.

Reports in Spain on Thursday suggested Madrid had spoken to manager Arsene Wenger about a deal to sign the 22-year-old midfielder, with Argentinian striker Gonzalo Higuain acting as a possible makeweight.

However, the Gunners chief executive Ivan Gazidis laughed off the claims, drawing on the players own recent declaration of intent to remain in north London.
'No one from any club has approached us about Cesc Fabregas,' Gazidis told The Times newspaper. 'Cesc has continually said — and I don’t think he could say it more clearly — that he’s focused on Arsenal.

Loyal: Fabregas has always stated his desire to remain in north London

'He’s a very important part of our team, so there’s no thought about him going anywhere. I’m reluctant to talk about hypotheticals, but this club will not transfer any player unless it wants to.'
Fabregas is in his eighth year at Arsenal, having been poached from the Barcelona youth set-up as a 16-year-old. He was handed the captain's armband last season and has become one of world football's most sought after stars.
His former club have been vocal in their desire to bring him 'home' but Fabregas himself has remained loyal to the club gave him his chance.

'I have a cool head, I am very happy at Arsenal and in England there is still a lot for me to do,' he told Spanish newspaper Marca a fortnight ago. 'That is all I can say to you. I am not thinking about anything else.
'I am very content and have a long path to cover in the Premier League.

'Since the summer there has been talk about (bids from Real or Barcelona) and the only thing I am doing is thinking about my club, Arsenal, and seeing how I can help my team-mates.'
Wenger, too, has grown frustrated at the noises coming from the Nou Camp but after 13-years at Arsenal, the Frenchman has become accustomed to the transfer tittle-tattle that surrounds his best players.
The Frenchman's own future is also becoming a bit of buzzword around The Emirates. Wenger was 60 in November and is approaching the final 18-months of a contract he signed in 2007.

Gazidis, though, in unconcerned. The South African remains confident Wenger's ambition burns as fiercely as ever, suggesting the Frenchman could continue at the helm beyond his old adversary, Sir Alex Ferguson.

There’s a huge amount of ambition left in Arsene and a huge amount of vision and legacy that has yet to be achieved,' Gazidis said.

'I’m hesitant to talk about a time after Arsene because he’s in great health and I hope he will keep going longer than Sir Alex Ferguson.

'We are very relaxed about Arsene’s contract. 'At the right time we and Arsene will talk about extending that.

'Typically with Arsene those discussions happen towards the end of the contract period. But we’re extraordinarily happy with him.

'But at the same time we have to be aware that the club is bigger than anybody — any owner, which is why I talk about the self-sustaining model, and any individual — and that some day, which I believe will be a long time from now, Arsene is going to say, ‘I’ve done enough, I want to spend some time with my family,’ or whatever it is that he decides.

'The club needs to be prepared to continue the traditions that he has built.

'I’m conscious, and Arsene is conscious, that what he has created here needs to continue after him, so it’s imperative that we take those values, that vision, that legacy, and institutionalise it and take it forward.

'Arsene will be a big part of that when the time comes.'