Arsene Wenger has rubbished any talk of Cesc Fabregas’ proposed move to Manchester United by revealing that the Spanish midfielder wants to spend another year with Barcelona.

United had lodged a hopeful £26million bid for Fabregas who is said to be unsettled at the role he plays in the Catalan side.

Bench warmer?

Fabregas has fallen below a list of players in the pecking order, with boss Tito Vilanova insisting on using him as a “false 9” striker rather than his preferred role – as he played at Arsenal  - as an attacking midfielder.

Midfielders in the Barca squad include the likes of Andreas Iniesta, Xavi and Sergio Busquets, and up front he has to compete with the likes of Lionel Messi, Pedro, Alexis Sanchez and now Neymar. His lack of first team opportunities and even less of those in his preferred place on the field has fuelled he rumours of his wanting to leave.

United narrowly missed out on the signing of Thiago Alcantara and so immediately turned their attention to Fabregas.

Going nowhere

However Arsene Wenger, who stays good friends with his former captain Fabregas, claimed yesterday that United’s pursuit would be fruitless:

“Fabregas has decided to stay one more year at Barcelona. Unless he has changed his mind. I don’t know. But that’s what I have been told. We have the clause in his contract so we would be on alert but at the moment that’s not something we are after.”

United are willing to raise the offer significantly and Barca’s resolve would be tested having spent big on Brazilian Neymar. Having ended almost every recent transfer window in the black, Barcelona could take the opportunity to make some profit from the summer window.

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