Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Why All Signs Point Towards the Door for Cesc Fabregas
Cesc Fabregas is at it again.
This summer marks the third consecutive off-season that the Arsenal skipper is fully submersed in another transfer saga which includes the usual suitors—FC Barcelona and Real Madrid—along with newcomers Inter Milan.
Fabregas before has admitted his interest in eventually returning to his native Spain, but the question always remains, when will he do so?
It seems each day that evidence continues to build as to why the 24-year-old will not be returning to North London this fall, and this summer could finally be the time young Cesc books his ticket for Catalonia.
5. No Trophies This Season, Again
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Most English soccer fans know that the Gunners have gone without any silverware for six consecutive seasons and it has raised some major cause for concern.
You can thank me later for re-stating the obvious.
Fabregas is a winner, and he always has been. He was won major senior international titles with Spain in 2008 with the European Championships and last summer's World Cup in South Africa.
The only taste of success he's been able to enjoy was Arsenal's last trophy: the FA Cup in 2005.
He already has climbed to heights in his young career that most wouldn't even dream of accomplishing. A winning mentality like his highly outweighs his dwindling patience with the club.
4. Lack of Leadership
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As an Arsenal supporter, this isn't easy for me to concede but it seems that Fabregas has lost his handle on the team.
Even Denilson, Fabregas's teammate of four years, questioned his leadership ability and captaincy this winter, saying the Spaniard was not a true leader and the club lacked personal character within its ranks.
As mentioned in a previous article, the Gunners have not had a true leader since Thierry Henry left in 2007.
The grandeur of leadership that Henry (and Vieira before him) possessed was so great that expectations surrounding the club may be stuck in a moment's past.
The fresh, young players of the past few years have been dubbed the "new era" of Arsenal football and Fabregas seemingly fit the mold to head this revolution.
Unfortunately for Arsenal fans, that doesn't seem to be the case. Maybe Denilson's claims had some merit to them after all.
3. Arsenal Needs the Money
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With all eyes on Arsene Wenger this summer and expectations of summer signings high, Arsenal desperately need the funds to purchase new talent.
With the large sum of money from Fabregas's sale, in addition to the transfer kitty Wenger has been promised, the Gunners could make a drastic personnel overhaul this off-season.
To put things in perspective, Fabregas's current contract, which he signed last April, has the club paying him nearly £110,000-a-week and pushed Arsenal to the third-highest payroll in the Premier League last season.
Now imagine the kind of financial burden his departing contract would relieve the Gunners and make room for multiple new faces in North London this season.
2. Continued Rumors Regarding His Departure
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Each week rumors arise regarding the Spaniard's future with the club, most of which have a re-occurring theme: he is on the way out.
Today there was speculation of Fabregas heading to Barcelona in a player-plus-cash swap deal between the two clubs, with young star Thiago Alcantara heading the other way.
Another report by the Daily Mirror today noted that Bojan Krkic could be on his way to wearing Arsenal red next year so that the Catalan giants could get their man.
Not two weeks ago, in the days leading up to the Champions League Final, Barcelona defenders Gerard Pique and Carlos Puyol were photographed at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium holding and pointing to a picture of him.
Though it may have been a fruitless prank at the time, it's no joke that Barcelona, and most of Spain, want Fabregas to return home.
1. He Wants to Go
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Just by watching Fabregas play this year, it became clear that he wanted to leave.
The 24-year-old has made it no secret that one day he wishes to return to his native land and this season he made it pretty evident that he is more than ready for a change of scenery.
He lacked leadership, heart, and failed to make an impact in games more often than not.
It cannot be ignored that his season was interrupted by nagging hamstring and groin injuries, but what's bothersome was his lack of assertion to get back onto the pitch.
The fight just seemed to be sucked out of young Cesc this year. He was dressed in the Arsenal kit, but his heart and mind were already in Barcelona.
