Cesc Fabregas has hit out at his former club Barcelona over their pursuit of several of his Arsenal team-mates, and has told the Catalan club to show more respect.
Barca have been linked with a number of Arsenal's top players this summer, with forward Emmanuel Adebayor and midfielder Alexander Hleb the most talked about targets in the Spanish media.
The amount of speculation coming out of Spain regarding the duo has upset Fabregas, who told Catalunya Radio that such reports unsettle players and that the London club would not act in such a public manner.
"A club like Barca should show a bit more respect to the intimacy of a club like Arsenal that never make a lot of noise (over transfers) and who always try to do things properly," he said.
"In the last few weeks it's come out that Barca are in for at least seven Arsenal players and there's no need for that.
"These things cause doubts in the mind of the players and unsettle us.
"Arsenal do things differently, always in secret, and that's much more normal.
"They shouldn't do things so that everybody knows about it. If the player wants to go he'll go anyway."
Fabregas, who upset Barcelona when he joined Arsenal as a 16-year-old in 2003, revealed that he had spoken to his team-mates about the speculation and said he would support them whatever their decision.
"I've spoken to one of the players who's being spoken about, he's a friend of mine and I've wished him all the best if he stays or if he goes," he added.
"Hleb and Adebayor should do the best for their future and to be happiest, but I'd like them to stay at Arsenal."
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Comment 1 - 4 of 4
If adebayor or hleb want to leave, let them go. We will use the fund to buy better players in the attack and the defence line up which i know d Prof is working on and arsenal will be better next season.
As a MANU fan, I agree with Cesc... The Gunners have never been tangled in all of this hargy bargy... not over transfers anyways. If they want a guy, they, even more than the club I support, do it in the most gentlemanly way. Hats off to the Gunners... you should be proud of your track record, a real credit to the game... wish more people were like you. Cheers
Yes... Arsenal need to keep a very young lineup so they can stay on track for wegenr's 30 year team building plan. Arsenal is fun to match no doubt but you need experience to win decisive big games against big teams later on in the season.
PS: febregace should let players leave for money and fame like he left barca ..don't be a hypocrite
If they dont want to play for Arsenal then let them go and with the money we could strenghten the team with a quality defender and a central midfield player but remember all gooners the arsenal manager knows what he is doing.
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