Arsene Wenger slams ‘disrespectful’ Xavi after midfielder claimed ‘suffering’ Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas wants to join Barcelona

The French boss left the club's first pre-season game in Malaysia in anger after the Spain international’s comments were published on the Catalan club’s official website

By Michael Raven

Jul 14, 2011 8:40:00 AM

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UEFA Champions League - Arsenal vs Barcelona , Lionel Messi and Cesc Fabregas(Getty Images)

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hit out at Barcelona midfielder Xavi, who claimed Cesc Fabregas is "suffering" at the Emirates because he wants to move to Camp Nou.

The Gunners captain has been heavily linked with a return to the Catalan giants this summer, and Xavi said he had been told by his international team-mate that he wanted to rejoin his former club.

The Spain star told Barca's official website: "I spoke to Cesc in Ibiza and he said he was suffering because he wanted to come. It's more like, he did everything he could to come and wants to leave Arsenal - although he made it clear that now everything depends on the selling club."

But Wenger believes Xavi's comments were "disrespectful", telling reporters after his side's first pre-season game in Malaysia: "It is very disrespectful, and it is not the first time that Xavi has been disrespectful to Arsenal Football Club.

"If I found Barcelona in exactly the same position, I believe a mutual respect between the clubs should stop this kind of comment. "I believe that I cannot comment on every comment. What is important is that Cesc Fabregas is contracted to Arsenal Football Club. That is a fact. Arsenal wants to keep him and all the rest is comment."
Arsenal have been continually frustrated by Barcelona's treatment of the situation, and were left angered last summer when Carles Puyol, as well as Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina, put a Barca shirt on Fabregas after Spain's 2010 World Cup win.
The Gunners have so far rejected two approaches from Barcelona for Fabregas this summer, both under the club's €45 million valuation of the player.