Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas has become the second high profile Spanish La Liga player to express his exasperation, saying he is frustrated over not playing every minute of every game.
The Spanish midfielder was substituted only for 63 minutes in Barcelona’s narrow victory over Valencia on Sunday.
Fabregas’ complaint echoes that of Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who refused to celebrate his brace against Granada due to feeling sad for professional reasons.
“There’s no such thing as a great substitute in the world of football. I couldn’t tell you what makes a great substitute. I always wish my teammates well and put a happy face on,” the Daily Mail quoted Fabregas, as saying.
“If I have to take my unhappy face home, then so be it, but I would never let my teammates or manager see it,” he added.
The former Arsenal captain competes for a starting berth in the centre of the park with some of game’s biggest stalwarts like Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Sergio Busquets and new recruit Alex Song.
“Everybody likes to play every minute of the season. I’ve always said that I play for the best team in the world, but I came here to compete, to learn and enjoy, not to sit wracking my brains.” Fabregas said.
“The manager knows what I can offer. But across the three positions that I can play, I am competing with the three best players in the world. I’m delighted to be a part of this team but when a coach tells me I have to go, I’ll go,” he added.
“But I will not make it easy for him to do so, by any means. I will keep going, looking forward to the time that things change. I came here to see out my career,” he said.
