Barcelona deny making Fabregas promise

Barcelona sporting director Txiki Begiristain has denied the reigning European and Spanish champions have told Arsenal they will not be making a move for Cesc Fabregas in the summer.

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood yesterday claimed Barca had recently assured the Gunners they will not be tabling a summer bid for Fabregas, who has long been linked with a return to the Catalan giants where he spent several years as a youth player.

However, Begiristain was quoted as saying by AS newspaper: "If Barcelona consider it necessary for the team, they will go for him, whilst always respecting the negotiations.

"We've never said that we are not going to try to sign Cesc Fabregas. We'll see what happens."

Hill-Wood yesterday told ESPN Soccernet: "There was a private conversation that took place in the boardroom and assurances have been made at the highest possible level.

"Arsenal do not expect those to be broken."