Why does Cesc Fabregas want to leave Arsenal?

The reasons behind the move would appear to be twofold. First of all, Arsenal have simply not achieved the success which most would expect of them over the past few seasons. Indeed, despite the club challenging for Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League honours regularly and valiantly, their trophy cabinet has remained empty since 2005. The club had the chance to rectify this in a Carling Cup final against Birmingham in February but infamously fell apart to lose it 2-1. Meanwhile, Fabregas can see Barcelona, a club who clearly want to bring the midfielder back to the Nou Camp, playing the best football some pundits and writers claim they have ever seen and winning almost every trophy they challenge for. It is no surprise that the Arsenal No. 4 would look at that and see a move to Spain as a far better option for his footballing future.

Secondly, Fabregas has history at Barcelona as he came through their youth academy. As a fan of the Catalans as a youngster, it must gall the Spaniard slightly to see so many other players who have come through the same youth set up playing regular football at the Nou Camp and winning trophies as if it is routine. Fabregas is close to many of those players too because of his international experience, plus he played alongside the likes of Gerard Pique and Lionel Messi during his time at Barcelona’s academy, so it would not be difficult for him to form an understanding with them on the football pitch.

Nevertheless a fact that some, including Fabregas himself, seem to be overlooking is whether he will even get regular first team football at the Nou Camp. Barcelona have a winning 4-3-3 set up, with Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta playing across the midfield.

I question how Fabregas, who cannot beat any of these three men into the Spanish national first team, will be able to take one of their places in the Barcelona starting eleven. Certainly, he is highly unlikely to push either Xavi or Iniesta out of the team, as breaking up the best midfield partnership in the game today could be classed as some sort of footballing criminal offence.

The only option I can foresee is Busquets being pushed out the starting line-up, with Xavi dropping deeper and allowing Fabregas to attack more. Still, I think it is unlikely. Why mess with a formula that is working? The more likely scenario is that Fabregas will become a squad player. A great one, no doubt. But still one that is sat on the bench more often than not.

Ultimately, it is not hard to see why Fabregas would want to join Barcelona. They are, after all, the best team in football today. It is understandable that he would want to return to the club he supported as a child and grew up with in the youth academy. He will win trophies too, there is no doubt about that. But will it be as a first team player? I doubt it. And it would be a real shame to see such a great player sat in the dugout rather than playing the game he loves. So, will this move be in the best interests of Cesc Fabregas? We will just have to wait and see, I suppose.

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