Fabregas Sr dismisses shirt gaffe

(GSM) – Cesc Fabregas’ father has rubbished reports suggesting that his son will certainly join Barcelona after being put in a Barca shirt amid Spain’s World Cup celebrations.

Arsenal captain Fabregas, who had joined the Emirates club in 2003, has already expressed his desire for a return to his boyhood side Barca at the end of last season.

After their £30million bid was rejected by the Gunners, the Catalan giants have maintained their pursuit of the 23-year-old midfielder.

Spain internationals Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique, who both play for the Primera Division champions, added fueled more speculation by forcing a Barca jersey on Fabregas upon the squad’s victorious arrival home from South Africa on Monday.

But the player’s father insists nothing should be read into the incident, and promised no offence had been meant towards Arsenal by his son.

“It was a day of celebration and anything goes. If anyone misinterprets it, they have to see that it was part of a celebration,” Francesc Fabregas told COM Radio.

“Cesc has it very clear what Arsenal has been and is for him. He is super grateful to them and it has never crossed his mind to do something wrong towards them.

“Cesc said what he wanted to do (sign for Barca) the day after the end of the league so that Arsenal had time to react.

“It would have been nasty to say it today, when they are almost on the verge of starting the pre-season.

“But he always did so thinking about Arsenal. It remains to be seen how everything turns out.”