CESC FABREGAS, like any footballer, is entitled to ask for a move, but unless Arsenal receive in excess of £40m he can have no complaints if they refuse his request.
Fabregas has been at the club for almost seven years, six of those as a first team regular, and has done everything that could be expected of him in that time.
But his current contract has another four years to run so he cannot just swan off unless the Gunners receive an acceptable offer.
You can’t just commit to a long-term deal and then say you want to leave – just like a club can’t sign up a player for years and then decide they want to terminate the agreement.
The problem is Barcelona seem to think that they only have to pay £30m for him, just because he used to be their player. That just doesn’t come into it.
A player of his age (he has only just turned 23) and experience (he has already played more than 250 games for Arsenal) must be worth £40m-£45m.
After all, he could sign a four-year deal at Barcelona and they could then go on to sell him for £75m.
Arsenal won’t be able to replace him for less than £30m and I don’t think anyone in their right mind would argue that he isn’t worth at least £10m more than that.
So unless the Gunners board receives a princely sum he can’t have any arguments about staying. And if he doesn’t move, you would hope he has enough respect for the club to keep giving his all.
