Arsenal ´sad´ at Cesc departure, says Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he is ‘sad’ to see Cesc Fabregas finally complete his move to European champions Barcelona.

The midfielder completed his transfer to his boyhood club on Monday after drawn-out negotiations between Arsenal and the La Liga outfit.

Wenger said he wanted to keep the Spain international, but he feels the English Premier League club will move on despite their captain’s departure.

“We lost a world-class player and we are sad about it,” he said.

“We did try to keep him but, in the end, you have to respect the desire of the player, and this club is 125 years old this season and many big players left the club and the club went on, and that’s what we want to show – that we have the strength and unity to fight as ever.”

Another player who has been heavily linked with a move away from Emirates Stadium during the transfer window has been Samir Nasri, who has less than a year remaining on his contract and has attracted interest from Manchester City.

Wenger, who wants to keep the France international, said he does not think Nasri will leave just because Fabregas chose to do so.

“The two things are not linked,” Wenger said.

“Ideally I want Samir Nasri to stay but as much as we were in a strong position on the contract side with Cesc, the situation is a bit different (with Nasri), but hopefully we can sort the situation out.”