Fabregas says No to Real move and stays at Arsenal

By SIMON CASS

Last updated at 13:04 13 July 2007

Cesc Fabregas last

night snubbed Real

Madrid and told them

he will be staying at

Arsenal.

After a meeting with Arsene Wenger

on Wednesday, Fabregas decided to

reject the advances of the La Liga

champions and informed the Spanish

club's president Ramon Calderon

yesterday.

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On his conversation with Calderon

and sporting director Predrag Mijatovic,

Fabregas said: "I have talked

with them because they seem to me

like spectacular people and they

made a great effort to get me to sign.

"It was a very difficult decision for

me but with Thierry Henry leaving, I

feel that I can't leave the club that

has done so much for me. I have a

great responsibility this season and I

can't wait to get started and try to

win things.

"It made me very excited that a club

as big as Madrid were interested in

me and that made it a very difficult

decision. It's a chance that doesn't

come around very often but I am only

20 and I have to keep improving and I

want to do that at Arsenal."

Addressing fears that Wenger may

not commit himself to the north London

club beyond next summer, when

his contract ends, Fabregas added: "I

have every confidence that the

manager will sign a new deal."

Fabregas' decision will no doubt

have delighted Wenger and so will the

news that Newcastle striker Obafemi

Martins will hold showdown talks

with boss Sam Allardyce today that

could lead to his move to Arsenal.

The forward's head has been turned

by interest from Wenger and he has

told friends he is keen on a move to

the capital. News that the 22-year-old

Nigerian has a clause in his contract

that allows him to leave if an offer of

£13million is tabled has increased the

likelihood of his departure.

Wenger tentatively enquired about

him at the end of last season,

believing the striker could replace

Henry. Martins is aware of his

increased earnings potential if he can

orchestrate a transfer to London.

He is keen to move into the £100,000-aweek

bracket that only Michael Owen

can demand at St James' Park.

Meanwhile, Arsenal yesterday

completed the £7.5m transfer of

Auxerre defender Bacary Sagna.

The 24-year-old, who has signed a

five-year deal at the Emirates worth

£25,000 a week and will wear the No 3

shirt vacated by Ashley Cole

following his acrimonious departure

to Chelsea last summer, revealed that

the chance to work with Wenger and

link up with some former team-mates

had convinced him to join Arsenal.

"He (Wenger) showed his determination

when he wanted to attract me

to the club when we spoke recently,"

said Sagna. "The fact that he

personally contacted me recently, the

fact that this is such a big club and he

has made so much effort to recruit

me, it has seduced me.

"I'm excited to play alongside many

great players. I know Abou Diaby

from our time at Auxerre and also

Gael Clichy and Mathieu Flamini

from the French Under 21 team."

Sagna, whose fee could rise by a

further £1.3m based on performances,

is most at home at right back having

been voted the best player in France

in that position last season.

However,

he can play across the back four or

even as a defensive midfielder.

Sagna's capture follows that of

striker Eduardo da Silva from

Dinamo Zagreb for £8m last week,

while Wenger has also landed

defender Havard Nordtveit and

goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

The arrival of Sagna is likely to see

Emmanuel Eboue pushed into

right midfield with Freddie

Ljungberg tipped to leave Arsenal for

Fiorentina.

In addition, Sagna's capture is sure

to raise questions over the future of

Justin Hoyte, who has attracted

interest from Reading, even though

Arsenal are set to be without cover at

right back when Eboue departs for

the Africa Cup of Nations with the

Ivory Coast next January.