Where's Michel Platini in the Cesc Fabregas saga?

By Ian Cruise in Mirror Football Blog

Published 12:17 26/05/10

• 

Cesc Fabregas has already become the transfer saga of the summer.

And yet his father, Francesc Fabregas snr, has ensured the story has taken a sinister twist.

In an interview with Radio Marca, Fabregas' father clearly admits that Barcelona have already spoken to his son.

Read the full transcript of Cesc Fabregas' father's interview on Spanish radio here  

Fabregas senior says Barcelona have told his son to tell Arsenal that Barcelona is the only club he wants to join so that other interested clubs - Real Madrid and Manchester City also want him - cannot force the price up in a bidding war.

Furthermore, Fabregas snr says the money being talked about is 'insane.' Too right. Last week, prospective Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rossell claimed the club was in 'stratospheric' debt.

And yet, where is UEFA president Michel Platini in all of this?

Platini has hammered English clubs in the past for having too much debt and yet there is a wall of silence when it comes to Barcelona not only putting themselves into a crippling financial position but blatantly flouting 'tapping up' rules.

Arsenal now have an open and shut case to take to FIFA about an illegal approach. But in reality, what is the point? The damage has been done.

Arsenal have a player who has told them he wants to leave, despite extending his contract until 2015 for a bigger pay deal.

They have a player who is angling to get away, angling to keep the price down and yet Arsenal insist they don't want to sell and don't need the money. Mind you, Fabregas is 23, a sought after Euro 2008 winner and Cristiano Ronaldo fetched £80m last summer.

It's likely to get very messy, especially as the evidence from Fabregas' father could not be more clear.

Here's Exhibit A on 'tapping up'. Just look at this evidence from the Q&A with Fabregas' father :

Q: Do you think Barça will work hard to sign Cesc?
A: "From what they have said it appears that they will because he is a player they really want."

Q: Cesc has only one choice to make? To go to Barca or stay at Arsenal.
A: Yes, that is the decision. Barca have said not to listen to anyone else that is not Barca. That means that evidently there are other clubs that are interested and would not have the difficulty that Barca would have to pay the amount that Cesc would currently cost. To avoid that he wanted to clarify that he will only either stay at Arsenal or go to Barca."

And here's Exhibit B on finance:

Q: Some Barca fans do not think that Barca should break the bank to sign Cesc.
A: "Everyone thinks that the world of football can be a little insane. I have a small construction business and deal with budgets of €2,000 or €3,000 and all this is beyond me. Is Cesc worth this amount? They talk about millions like they were nothing. It does make people nervous but what can you do if it is your son and he is involved in all this? I understand that people are all discussing this, but one has to understand Cesc's circumstances. When he first left he said he would not go back, but things happen. Now this interest is mutual. A valuation is the difficult part. I am in the middle."

Platini is trying to bring in tougher UEFA licences within three years to stop clubs spending more than their turnover. They must not plunge themselves into debt.

Furthermore, clubs must observe UEFA and FIFA rules. This 'everyone does it' theory on tapping up doesn't hold much water. It's illegal.

And yet Platini's proposals are seen as a damning indictment of English football.

But Arsenal is a well run club, not trying to bankrupt themselves while paying off a new stadium.

Yet their sound finances, long-term planning and football philosophy is being disregarded by the likes of Platini whose bias against English football seems to know no bounds.

Fancy winning £3,000 for FREE this month? Play Mirror Football Streak for your chance to win cash prizes! Start predicting now!