Cesc Fabregas is ‘Back Home’ say Barcelona after signing Arsenal captain
Catalans give five-year deal to Cesc and insert huge buyout clause into contract
Cesc Fabregas has had his move to Barcelona confirmed today, and the Catalan club have immediately inserted an enormous 200 million euros (�175m) buyout clause into his contract.
The former Arsenal captain has signed a five-year deal at Camp Nou, with the fee worth �35m in total, although Arsenal will receive it in a number of instalments.
But most eye-catching was the buyout clause listed on Barca’s official twitter feed under a headline ‘Back Home’.
The European champions have also claimed that they are signing Fabregas for just �25m, although the details of the transfer make clear that is not the case.
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That will anger Arsenal fans who are feeling that even �35m was not enough for the 24-year-old who was still under contract at the Emirates for another four years.
“We have lost a world-class player. We are sad about it because we tried to keep him,” Wenger said.
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Fabregas was thrilled to be joining the Catalan club and he also paid tribute to his former boss.
“I’ll never have enough words to thank him for all he’s done for me,” he said. “I’ll never forget him.
“I don’t think he has such a good image here. He has been portrayed as something he’s not, in my opinion. If today I am here with you, then it’s greatly due to him.
“I can’t express my admiration for him strongly enough, I owe it to him that I am here.”
“I have waited a long time for this moment, this is the greatest challenge of my life”
Arsenal are set to receive just �12.5m of the money up front, with a further �12.5m to be paid in October. The Gunners will then receive further payments next year, and other add-ons based on Fabregas’s appearances, goals and honours.
Fabregas signed for Arsenal from Barcelona in 2003, and made 303 appearances, scoring 57 goals for the club, having been made captain in November 2008.
