Barcelona's pursuit of Cesc Fabregas given green light by Spanish FA

By Simon Cass Updated: 21:01 EDT, 23 May 2010

Barcelona's pursuit of Cesc Fabregas has been aided by the willingness of the Spanish FA to let the Spanish Champions conduct negotiations with the Arsenal midfielder during the build-up to the World Cup.

Unlike the stance taken by England manager Fabio Capello, the Italian has banned all transfer talk in the during the pre-tournament training schedule, Spain manager Vicente del Bosque and his employers are unconcerned about moves being plotted in the run-up to South Africa.

Impasse: The two clubs have hit a brick wall over Fabregas

 

   

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That effectively gives Barca until June 9, the day after Spain play their final warm-up match against Poland, to strike a deal with Arsenal and finalise the details of a contract with Fabregas.

Barcelona officials are expected to try and make contact their Arsenal counterparts again today and may even go as far as lodging an opening gambit bid in the region of £30million.

That remains way short of Arsenal’s valuation, Arsene Wenger will only consider the selling his captain if Barcelona bid somewhere in the region of the £80m Real Madrid paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo last summer.

But Barca intend to argue that Ronaldo’s price tag was down to him being a mainstay of the Portuguese national team while also holding the title of FIFA World Player of the Year at the time of his move Barca’s case for a lower fee for  Fabregas is based on the fact that, while he may be Arsenal captain, he has yet to command a regular place in the Spain side.

Their fear is that should Fabregas go on to star for Spain in South Africa, then Arsenal’s huge asking price may not look so huge after all.