Wenger refutes latest talk of Barca move for Fabregas

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists Cesc Fabregas will not be sold to Barcelona regardless of any meetings between the two clubs’ directors.

Gunners chairman Peter Hill-Wood claimed on Wednesday that informal talks between the clubs had taken place about Fabregas’ future during Barcelona’s recent Champions League win over the Gunners.

Hill-Wood insisted Barcelona had given an assurance that they were not interested in signing Fabregas and also claimed the Spanish midfielder wouldn’t get into the European champions’ team anyway.

But the Catalan club denied brokering a deal with Arsenal not to try and bring Fabregas back to the Nou Camp, once again raising the possibility of a big-money bid – and forcing Wenger to issue another hands-off warning.

“We have not been in contact with Barcelona,” Wenger said. “There is an official dinner before every Champions League game but there have been no secret meetings. I don’t want to sell any of our players.

“We want to keep this team together. I can’t understand the persistent campaign to get English players to Spain.”

Barcelona have held a long-standing interest in Fabregas, who quit the Spanish club in September 2003 after being offered more first-team opportunities at Arsenal.