Fans of the Catalan club are furious at their club being taken for a ride by the North Londoners yet again.
Barcelona and Arsenal have always had a funny relationship, with the Gunners trying to sign Barca youngsters on the cheap; and Barcelona trying to sign Arsenal stars at their peak.
While the loss of their big stars to other clubs is a regular annoyance for Arsenal fans, they have certainly have had the better of this relationship, and the Catalan press have finally had enough of watching Arsenal run rings round their clubs negotiators.
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After spending big money on player like Thierry Henry, Marc Overmars, Cesc Fabregas and Alexander Hleb over the years, with varying degrees of success, it is the €18m purchase of Thomas Vermaelen has proved to be the breaking point for some. “Sport” columnist Ivan San Antonio, has raged at the fact that a club who are supposed to be watching their spending have spent so much on a player was well known as being injury prone, and who has lived up to that reputation at his new club. The Belgian defender passed his medical, but was then declared injured immediately upon signing. He still has yet to play for his new club.
The most galling part of this deal for Barcelona is that it is Arsenal, and Wenger, who they describe as a “child pickpocketing expert” who has benefited once again from their clumsy transfer policy. Meanwhile at Arsenal (who have their own injury problems) it is Hector Bellerin, the latest child prodigy “pickpocketed” from Barcelona, who has replaced Vermaelen in the squad.