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Tag: Cesc Fabregas

  • Fabregas leaves Chelsea to join Henry in Monaco

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Cesc Fabregas has completed his move from Chelsea to join former Arsenal teammate, Thierry Henry in Monaco.

    The Spanish International leaves English football after 501 matches.

    Fabregas had on Saturday left the pitch in tears after making his final appearance for the Blues in the FA Cup win against Nottingham Forest

    He started just one league game under Maurizio Sarri this season.

    “It is a great pleasure to join AS Monaco, a new project for me,” Fabregas said in a statement

    “The group is quality with young players and a young coach. I’m here to help the team.

    “I am looking forward to starting, we have a great match to play in Marsielle on Sunday. I am very excited.”

    Reacting to his exit, the club said “There is no doubt Fabregas’s place in the Chelsea history books is assured given his achievements over the past four-and-a-half seasons.

    “Big goals and outstanding moments of quality, all backed up by the ultimate aim, which is to be part of a successful, trophy-winning team.

    “Fabregas departs having helped the club achieve great success, as well as providing our supporters with some wonderful memories.”

    Fabregas joined Chelsea from Barcelona in 2014, scoring 22 goals and laid on 57 assists during his 198 appearances in West London.

  • Sarri rules out switching Kante’s role

    Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante will not be moved back to his preferred position in central midfield, according to the English Premier League clubside’s manager Maurizio Sarri.

    The Italian manager said the role was more suited to technical players such as Jorginho and Cesc Fabregas.

    Kante emerged as a leading deep-lying midfielder in recent seasons, winning back-to-back Premier League titles with Leicester City and Chelsea.

    He also helped France to claim the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but Sarri said he had to adapt to an advanced role.

    “I want to play a central midfielder who is a very technical player. So, for me, it’s Jorginho or Fabregas.

    Read Also:Kante signs five-year deal with Chelsea

    “I don’t want Kante in this position,” Sarri told reporters ahead of Thursday’s UEFA Europa League clash with Greek side PAOK Salonika.

    Chelsea head into the contest on the back of a 3-1 league defeat by Tottenham Hotspur, their first loss of the season, where Kante and Jorginho struggled to influence the game.

    The result saw Chelsea drop to fourth in the standings and Sarri criticised 27-year-old Kante’s performance.

    “Kante, in the last match, wanted to solve the match after the first 15 minutes, but in the wrong way. He lost the position, he attacked too much,” Sarri added.

    “This one is not one of the best characteristics of Kante, but it was only in reaction to the difficulties.

    “Maybe it’s only a question of time, but Kante has to stay near to Jorginho, especially when the ball is on the other side,” the Chelsea coach said.

     

  • Pizzagate:   Fabregas confesses after 13 years

    Pizzagate:   Fabregas confesses after 13 years

     

    Former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has admitted once and for all it was he who threw pizza into the face of legendary Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson in October 2004, the match which became known as the Battle of the Buffet.

    An infamous tunnel brawl between Arsenal and United players at Old Trafford followed a controversial 2-0 win for the hosts, which ended the Gunners’ historic 49-match unbeaten run, Wayne Rooney having been awarded a contentious penalty.

    Players from both sides were scrapping after the match before Ferguson was left with pizza all over him after a member of the away dressing room threw it in his direction.

    Fabregas, now of Chelsea, had previously been the rumoured culprit after a hint from former team-mate Martin Keown, but has finally confirmed his guilt 13 years after the game, although he insists he had not meant to hit Ferguson.

    Asked to confirm he threw the pizza on Sky’s ‘A League of Their Own’, Fabregas said: “Yes!

    “Martin Keown is a liar because I saw him in front of me just, like, punching people so he didn’t see anything.

    “All of a sudden, I heard noises and I thought what’s happening?

    “So I go out with my slice of pizza and I saw Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand, Martin Keown – everyone pushing each other.

    “I was like I want to get in but I don’t know how to and I threw – peeew –  just threw it.

    “Once I saw it was hitting, like, who it was hitting, which I didn’t mean… I apologise Sir Alex, really didn’t mean to do that!”

    Fabregas then gestured to confirm the pizza had hit Ferguson on the side of his face.

    Tensions were extremely high between Arsenal and United at that time. The previous year Ruud van Nistelrooy’s last-gasp penalty miss led to him being angrily surrounded by Gunners players, prompting an on-field scuffle.

    Ferguson himself had written about the incident in his autobiography. After detailing a head-to-head confrontation with Arsene Wenger, he wrote: “The next thing I knew I had pizza all over me. We put food into the away dressing room after every game. Pizza, chicken. Most clubs do it. Arsenal’s food was the best.

    “They say it was Cesc Fabregas who threw the pizza at me but to this day, I have no idea who the culprit was.”

  • How Messi, Fabrigas are Spending Their Holiday Together

    How Messi, Fabrigas are Spending Their Holiday Together

    It’s been three seasons now since they were last team-mates, but that hasn’t stopped Cesc Fabregas and Lionel Messi’s friendship from blossoming.

    With their respective football seasons over, the pair are currently enjoying their summer holidays before pre-season begins next month.

    And Barcelona superstar Messi and Chelsea midfielder Fabregas have decided to spend some of that together in Spain’s Balaeric islands.

    Cesc Fabregas (centre) and Lionel Messi (right) are currently enjoying a holiday together

    Cesc Fabregas (centre) and Lionel Messi (right) are currently enjoying a holiday together
    Fabregas and Messi brace themselves for the temperature of the sea as they get off a boat

    Messi prepares to dip his toes into the water

    Fabregas and Messi brace themselves for the temperature of the sea as they get off a boat

    The duo help their long-term partners Daniella Semaan (left) and Antonella Roccuzzo

    The duo help their long-term partners Daniella Semaan (left) and Antonella Roccuzzo

    Messi was the essence of a family man alongside Roccuzzo and their eldest son Thiago

    Accompanied by their families, the pair were seen basking in the Spanish sun on Thursday in Formentera.

    Messi, his long-term partner Antonella Roccuzzo and their eldest son Thiago dipped their toes in the sea before walking along the beach.

    The trio were closely followed by Fabregas, his long-term partner Daniella Semaan and their eldest daughter Lia.

    Fabregas and Messi were Barcelona team-mates for three seasons between 2011 and 2014 where they won four major honours together – including La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

    Fabregas subsequently joined Chelsea in the summer of 2014 while Messi remains at Barcelona.

    Fabregas holds his daughter Lia's hand as they walk during their holiday in Formentera

    Fabregas holds his daughter Lia’s hand as they walk during their holiday in Formentera

    Like Messi, Fabregas is enjoying his vacations after a long footballing campaign

    Like Messi, Fabregas is enjoying his vacations after a long footballing campaign

    Fabregas and Messi were Barcelona team-mates for three seasons between 2011 and 2014

    Fabregas and Messi were Barcelona team-mates for three seasons between 2011 and 2014

    Speculation over the latter’s future has been questioned due to an ongoing contract dispute; but one person who knows Messi well believes he will remain at the Nou Camp for the remainder of his glittering career.

    The 29-year-old is yet to sign a new contract extension with the club, despite him about to enter the final year of his deal.

    However, Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano has no doubt Messi will remain a Barcelona player in the near future and played down his chances of coming to the Etihad.

    He told Chinese news agency Xinhua when asked about Messi joining City: ‘No. I don’t think so. I know Messi very well. He and his family are my good friends.

    Argentine star Messi has said he wants to end his playing career with Barcelona

    Argentine star Messi has said he wants to end his playing career with Barcelona

    Messi has spent his entire career at the Nou Camp but his contract is due to end next year

    Messi has spent his entire career at the Nou Camp but his contract is due to end next year

    ‘I think he has settled in Barcelona, and he has been in Barcelona all his life. Naturally we think he will finish his playing career in Barcelona.

    ‘At least next year, maybe he can finish that career. After that he can go to China or US, but now I think he will stay in Barcelona.’

    Soriano worked for Barcelona between 2003 and 2008, during which time Messi emerged as one of the world’s best players.

    Messi has long been linked with a move to England, ever since City became one of the world’s wealthiest clubs.

    Manchester City's CEO Ferran Soriano played down their chances of signing Messi

     Manchester City’s CEO Ferran Soriano played down their chances of signing Messi
  • Chelsea slam £30m tag on Fabregas

    Chelsea slam £30m tag on Fabregas

    Cesc Fabregas is being looked at by Manchester United and Liverpool with Chelsea prepared to put a £30million asking price on the midfielder if they are to sell to a Premier League rival.

    The midfielder, who turns 30 on Thursday,  is likely to be among the players that Antonio Conte would be willing to part with in the summer. His contract with Chelsea runs until 2019.

    There has been interest from Italy and China in the midfielder but Fabregas is known to enjoy living in England.

    He has had a key role in Chelsea’s rise to the top of the Premier League having made 25 appearances this season, starting 10 of them.

    With the former Arsenal star on around the £200,000-a-week mark at Chelsea, they are wages that could be freed up for a replacement in midfield.

    Chelsea are continuing to lead the chase for Monaco’s highly-rated 22-year-old Tiemoue Bakayoko.

    The starlet is set to leave the French league leaders this summer and is also being tracked by Manchester United, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Juventus.

    Conte hailed the impact of Fabregas following the Spaniard’s display as a substitute against Everton last Sunday.

    The cultured midfielder came on and delivered a wonderful assist for Willian to wrap up a 3-0 victory at Goodison Park.

    Conte said: ‘I think Cesc is a player in this part of the season showing to be decisive in every moment. If he starts the game [or if] he came on during the game.’

  • Costa wins EPL Player of the Month award

    Costa wins EPL Player of the Month award

    Chelsea striker Diego Costa has been named the Premier League’s Player of the Month for August, Goal reports.

    The Brazilian-born Spain striker lifts the award in his first month in English football, having moved to Stamford Bridge from Atletico Madrid this summer.

    Costa, 25, scored four goals in three matches at the start of the English campaign, including individual strikes against Burnley and Leicester City and a double against Everton in a 6-3 victory.

    The striker was criticised by Everton boss Roberto Martinez following the game at Goodison Park on August 30 for shouting at Seamus Coleman after the Irish right-back had scored an own goal.

    “I think there are certain foreign players who, when they come to the Premier League, need to understand the ethics and it’s a completely different culture,” he said.

    He beat off competition from Chelsea team-mate Cesc Fabregas, Swansea City duo Nathan Dyer and Gylfi Sigurdsson and Aston Villa’s Andreas Weimann.

    But Swansea was successful in the manager’s category, with Garry Monk named Manager of the Month after guiding the Welsh side to three wins from three.

    The Welsh side kicked off its Premier League campaign with a 2-1 win at Manchester United, before beating Burnley 1-0 and West Brom 3-0.