European champions Barcelona finally announced late on Sunday the signing of midfielder Cesc Fabregas from English Premier League club Arsenal.
The brief announcement just before midnight on Sunday on Barca’s official website read: “Arsenal FC and FC Barcelona have reached the beginnings of an agreement for the transfer of Cesc Fabregas with the documents to be signed and the medical to take place on Monday.” Barca had been trying to bring Fabregas back to the Camp Nou since 2008, in one of the longest-running sagas in football history.
The Catalans have paid Arsenal around 40 million euros (57 million dollars) for the 24-year-old Spain midfielder, who left Barcelona to join Arsenal in 2003 at age 16.
Barca coach Pep Guardiola said — after a 2-2 Supercup first-leg draw at Real Madrid — that he was “very pleased” that the Fabregas transfer had finally gone through.
Barca President Sandro Rosell said: “It has been a difficult deal.
We are pleased that it is now over. Tomorrow we will receive him like a son returning home.” Fabregas will be presented to the Barca fans and media on Monday.
He will probably make his debut in Wednesday’s Supercup second leg, though Guardiola will almost certainly start with him on the subs’ bench.
