Barcelona board spokesman Toni Freixa haid said the Catalan club are doing all they can to sign Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas, but that the Gunners are simply unwilling to negotiate the sale of their midfielder.
Fabregas has been the subject of a transfer saga which has run all summer, with departed Barca president Joan Laporta and new boss Sandro Rosell both left frustrated by Arsenal’s tough stance.
Since having a £30 million bid turned down earlier this summer, Barca have made several attempts to speak to Arsenal, but Freixa says the Londoners are unwilling to budge.
“Arsenal don’t want to sit down and negotiate with us. It’s not a problem with the wishes of Cesc or of Barca – they simply don’t want to negotiate,” he said on Monday evening.
Fabregas still has five years to run on his Arsenal contract. However Barca midfielder Xavi claimed last week that the 23-year-old told his Spain team-mates he wants a return to Catalonia.
Barca coach Pep Guardiola has also recently reiterated his desire to sign Fabregas, although he conceded the final decision rests with the Gunners.
Meanwhile, Barca are looking to bring in a defensive midfielder as cover for Sergio Busquets and as a replacement for Yaya Toure, who recently joined Manchester City.
“The technical secretary is working hard on that,” Freixa said.
The Blaugrana have been linked with a three million-euro move for Villarreal’s Marcos Senna, 34, who was a star in Spain’s Euro 2008-winning side but left out of their victorious World Cup squad this summer after an injury-hit season.
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