Fabregas : I prefer Arsenal over Manchester United

Arsenal are reportedly set to make a £35million bid for Cesc Fabregas after he told Arsene Wenger he wants to return to the club.

Fabregas’ days at Barcelona look increasingly numbered with new manager Luis Enrique not thought to be a fan of the pass-master.

Manchester United have been strongly linked with a move for the 27-year-old, but reports now claim that he wants to return to Arsenal – and the Gunners are working on a £35million offer.

It’s not clear where he’d fit into Arsene Wenger’s plans, with Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey firmly established in the Arsenal engine room, but Fabregas is seen as a player who is too good to ignore.

Arsenal have the first option to sign him because of a buy-back clause which was inserted in his contact when he was sold to Barca.

It means that Arsenal get the first opportunity to sign the player, if Barca put him up for sale.

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Fabregas: Lazy reputation annoys me

Barcelona ace Cesc Fabregas has admitted that he is annoyed by accusations that he is lazy.

The former Arsenal captain has yet to nail down a regular position in the Blaugrana line-up since returning to Catalunya in 2011 and is regularly switched between midfield and attack.

Consequently, Fabregas, who has hit seven goals in La Liga this season, is upset by the perception within the media and among certain sections of the Camp Nou crowd that he does not work hard enough for the team.

"I know I have that reputation and it annoys me, because I don't stop moving around the whole pitch," he told AS. "Perhaps too much, because by moving so much it seems like I'm nowhere.

"Maybe [I am only appreciated for my goals] but after the game against Villarreal [on December 14], which I admit was my weakest match of the season so far, I was happy because I had played a part in the move that led to the [second] goal."

Barcelona, of course, are currently having to make do without talismanic forward Lionel Messi because of a hamstring injury, but Fabregas is keen to look on the bright side, believing that the Argentine's absence will mean that he is in peak physical condition for the business end of the 2013-14 campaign.

When asked if he was worried by Messi's injury problems, the Spain international replied: "No, because he'll be fine at the most important time of the season. That's what I told him when he got injured."

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Fabregas: I was right to reject Manchester United offer

Cesc Fabregas believes that his decision to stay at Barcelona following Manchester United's interest has been vindicated by his performances for the Spanish champions this season.

The 26-year-old was targeted by David Moyes in the summer but was subsequently assured by the Blaugrana hierarchy that he was a valued member of the squad and would not be allowed a return to the Premier League.

And Fabregas has hailed the impact of Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino, claiming that the 50-year-old has been one of the main factors behind his form this term.

"The season's started brilliantly," the former Arsenal star told The Guardian. "[Martino] lets me play the way that suits my qualities and I'm very comfortable, very happy. I feel better all the time, more and more central. The coach is giving me more opportunities, more status, more leadership.

On the first day - well, not the first day, but maybe the third or fourth, early on - he called me over and told me: 'I want you to be the player you were at Arsenal' and I thought 'wow!' because I'd always felt so good at Arsenal, so important.

"I never planned to go back this summer," he declared. "It's not something I was even thinking about.

"I was always clear in my mind that I want to succeed at Barcelona and I'd give everything to triumph here. I said openly: I haven't even thought about leaving, I'm not going.

"When I heard [about United's bid], I contacted Darren [Dein, my agent] and he confirmed that it had come out officially. He said: 'Yes, it's true. What do you want to do?' I didn't know anything about it [until then].

"If a club comes in for you and you tell your representative that you want to go, then you go. I spoke to [Josep Maria] Bartomeu, the vice-president, and he told me: 'You're not going anywhere; we have complete confidence in you', then I spoke to the president.

"I was very relaxed about the whole thing because that's what they transmitted to me. It's true that they had offers, and they told me that, but the only thing in my head was staying at Barcelona. At no time did I say that I wanted to go and I stayed out of it. I was surprised. I didn't encourage them at all."

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Fabregas : Reina can replace Valdes'

Cesc Fabregas has backed Pepe Reina to fill the void by the inevitable departure of goalkeeper Victor Valdes for Barcelona next season.

Valdes is set to call time on his 11-year spell at Camp Nou next summer, prompting speculation over who will succeed the 31-year-old for the Catalans.

The Napoli shot-stopper, who is on a season-long loan from Liverpool, admits to being flattered by being one of the names touted for the position, and Fabregas believes his international team-mate may be an ideal candidate to successfully replace the long-serving goalkeeper.

"Victor has been here for 10 years and none of us can imagine another goalkeeper in his place when we turn and look at our goal," he told Radio Catalunya.

"But one of the things that Pepe can bring is that he knows all of us. He provides a very good atmosphere in the dressing room and is experienced."

Reina progressed through the ranks with the Spanish giants as a youngster, before quitting the club in favour of Villarreal.

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