Cesc Fabregas' Future Will Reveal His Hunger as a Player

There is no denying that Cesc Fabregas is one of the best players in the world.

No one will ever question his talent, but his heart's desire and hunger has never been more questionable.

The Spanish midfielder has established himself on the world stage, building himself all the way up to the captaincy of Arsenal, which is no small feat. Despite his achievements as a player, Fabregas has been unable to shake reports of his desire to leave the Emirates.

Barcelona has been linked to their former prospect for years, and their pursuit of his services has heated up in the summer transfer window.

You can see why Fabregas would want to head home, but if he were to leave a starring role at Arsenal to head to the sunny shores of Camp Nou, it would be a stunning statement on his ambitions as a player.

The young Gunners skipper is talented, but Barcelona's midfield is the best in the world, and a move to his boyhood club will inevitably reduce his playing time.

Barca is an ideal situation for a footballer, but if Fabregas wants to be the best in the world, and one would hope that he does, then it isn't the place for him.

As fans, we want our athletes to strive to be the best, and a failure to do that results in backlash.

There is a reason LeBron James was vilified for going to the Miami Heat, and it's because superstars aren't supposed to take the easy way out. For Fabregas, it wouldn't get any easier than heading home to Barcelona.

He would come off of the bench behind the best players in the world and cruise to multiple pieces of hardware. For most players, it would be a dream come true. Then again, few players have the type of skill that Fabregas possesses.

If he wants to do right by himself, Fabregas has to take control of his future and by proxy, his legacy.

Despite his refusal to step forward and express his intentions, the time for silence has passed. Fabregas respects and loves both clubs, but his lack of talk has left supporters of both sides in limbo, leading to protracted negotiations. 

With the respect the midfielder has shown Arsenal in the past, it would be hard for supporters to be mad if he wanted to go home, but he has to express his intentions, to lessen the torture everyone involved has gone through.

Does Fabregas want to craft his own legacy and lead the Gunners to their first silverware in years, or does he desire a move home, where he can be a small cog in a big machine?

This is a decision that will shape the way people look at him for the rest of his career, and we have reached a crescendo in this saga. Barcelona has set their sights on Fabregas, and he is their last big target in the summer transfer window. 

This is the most important moment of his career, and it's time for Fabregas to show everyone what he's really made of.