A war of words is building between Barcelona and Arsenal ahead of the clubs’ second leg of their UEFA Champions League tie.
Barcelona v Arsenal tickets available from Tixdaq.com
Watch Carling Cup Final live streaming with GetSport.TV
The Barcelona president, Sandro Rosell, has called Arsenal’s signing of a 16-year-old midfielder from their youth school “immoral”. Jon Miquel Toral Harper, who turned 16 on 5 February, has been hailed in Spain as the new Cesc Fábregas, who in 2003 also left Barcelona’s academy for London at the same age.
Rosell said that Barcelona’s club officials had told their Arsenal counterparts before last week’s Champions League last-16 first leg they were unhappy with the way the deal was conducted. The Spanish media have reported it was a deal brokered by the brother of the Barcelona coach, Pep Guardiola, who is an agent.
“It’s very important to keep this group of young lads together with a grounding in our way of playing football,” Rosell said. “We don’t like it when other clubs come with offers of money just before the [player's] 16th birthday. It’s legal but a little immoral.”
Rosell was also asked whether Barça will make another effort to bring Fábregas back to the club during the summer transfer window.
“Barça must have the best possible team and we have to fulfil the requests from the technical staff without forgetting the economic situation and that Barça has to pay salaries and costs,” Rosell said. “If Cesc comes, because the technical staff want him and he wants to, the club members would accept it.”
SOURCE: Guardian
Is anyone else a little tired of this holier than thou mentality one sees from Barcelona all the time?
Irrespective of whether you agree with Arsenal’s transfer policy – and even Sandro Rosell admits it is not against the law – Barcelona have no grounds for complaint whatsoever.
After all, Lionel Messi was signed as an 11 year-old from Newell’s Old Boys, while Andres Iniesta came from Albacete at the age of 12 – and that is just to name two.
Why is it more morally acceptable to Barcelona to sign 11 and 12 year-olds from teams than 16 year-olds?
In addition, last summer Barca made approaches to Arsenal youngsters Chuks Aneke and Benik Afobe.
Their ages at the time? Each was 17.
There is a lot to admire about the football ability of Barcelona’s players, but sometimes it seems that the more “mes que un club” is repeated, the more they deify themselves.
In the words of Fergie, perhaps someone needs to knock them off their f*****g perch.