Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Did Xavi Kill Barca's Hope of Landing Fabregas?

Arsenal have been locked in a pitched battle throughout this summer's transfer window over the fate of their captain and midfield maestro Cesc Fabregas. 

Barcelona have renewed their drive to bring their prodigal prodigy back to the Nou Camp this summer, having several different bids rejected by the Gunners and manager Arsene Wenger. 

But that hasn't stopped several different players from mouthing off about the potential move, many of whom just so happen to play for the Catalan club.

First, there was Dani Alves, who explained that Fabregas needed to force his way out of Emirates in much the same way he had at Sevilla, according to a report in The Guardian.

The worst of the bunch thus far, though, is without a doubt the midfield maestro himself, Xavi Hernandez. The Barca megastar went into great detail about how Fabregas was suffering with the Gunners and wanted nothing more than to be returned to the Nou Camp posthaste, according to a Mirror Football report. 

Per Xavi's boneheaded statements: 

"

I spoke to Cesc in Ibiza and he said he was suffering because he wanted to come. It's more like, he did everything he could to come and wants to leave Arsenal—although he made it clear that now everything depends on the selling club.

"

Did he really forget that this isn't a "last year of the contract" kind of transfer? Wenger doesn't have to sell Fabregas back, and neither do the Gunners. They can hang onto the talented Spaniard for as long as they see fit, and Barca will be left without their hometown hero once again.

Wenger all but confirmed that Xavi's sentiments had killed any potential progress that Barca had made on the Fabregas front in an interview he gave to reporters later, courtesy of Mirror Football. 

"

It is very disrespectful, and it is not the first time that Xavi has been disrespectful to Arsenal Football Club.

If I found Barcelona in exactly the same position, I believe a mutual respect between the clubs should stop this kind of comment.

I believe that I cannot comment on every comment. What is important is that Cesc Fabregas is contracted to Arsenal Football Club. That is a fact. Arsenal wants to keep him and all the rest is comment.

"

What was Xavi thinking? The only way this deal gets done for less than Arsenal's £40 million asking price is if Barcelona play nice with Wenger and the Gunners. By coming out and badmouthing the organization's selling practices, Xavi has completely blown up whatever goodwill was between the two clubs.

We know he wants Cesc back at the Nou Camp, but making idiotic statements about the club he's currently playing for will only serve to make things worse. It's not like Fabregas is actually that miserable; if he was, don't you think he'd put a transfer request in?

He seems to enjoy playing at Emirates enough that he's not actively pushing for a deal home, despite what Xavi seems to think. Maybe next time, when he's trying to help convince his club to acquire a player whose current club has no real reason to sell, he'll do them an actual favor and keep his mouth shut. 

In the end, Gunners fans can take solace in the fact that, thanks to the midfield dynamo, Fabregas is likely to stay at Emirates next season. I didn't think Fabregas was leaving before but, thanks to Xavi, I'm now almost positive that the Gunners captain is staying put. His brilliant statements have all but assured that the Gunners won't be selling Fabregas to Barcelona anytime this summer.