Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has moved quickly to dismiss speculation in Spain that Barca midfielder Xavi is to be part of a swap deal to bring Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas to the Nou Camp.
The La Liga giants have made no secret of their desire to lure Fabregas away from the Emirates Stadium, with recent reports suggesting that the midfielder could leave the Gunners as part of a swap deal that would see Xavi arrive in the Premier League.
28-year-old Xavi (left) has been at the Catalan club since the age of 11 and is Barca through and through, with the Spanish International keeping Fabregas out of the starting line-up for Spain in EURO 2008 and is under contract at the Spanish club until 2010, with a buyout clause of £100million.
21-year-old Fabregas is also a boyhood Barca fan and a product of the Catalan sides youth academy like Xavi. The midfielder left the Nou Camp for Arsene Wenger’s team as a 16-year-old sensing his opportunities at Barcelona would be limited, despite being a prolific goal-scorer from midfield for the Barcelona youth team.
Fabregas has constantly been linked over the past couple of seasons with Barca’s great rivals Real Madrid, but it is hard to imagine Fabregas ever playing for Los Merengues given his attachment to the Blaugrana, and did reveal recently that “It would be a dream” to return to his boyhood club.
“I would like to try to win more titles here, although next season we'll see,” Fabregas said.
“It would be a dream to return to Barcelona one day.”
However, Guardiola as much as he might want Fabregas to return to Barcelona has ruled out any deal involving his midfield general Xavi, with the former Barca player declaring that the midfielder will be going nowhere, while he remains in charge at the Nou Camp.
“With me as coach Xavi remains here, that is non-negotiable,” Guardiola said ahead of the La Liga match against Malaga.
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