Hleb warns Cesc: Don’t make same mistake as me
FORMER Arsenal star Alexander Hleb last night urged Cesc Fabregas not to make the same mistake as him and leave the Gunners for Barcelona.
Hleb joined the Catalan giants in a £13m deal in 2008 but found first-team opportunities limited at Camp Nou and was eventually packed off to former club Stuttgart on loan.
Like Hleb, Fabregas’ first-team spot would be far from guaranteed, and the Belarusian has urged his former Gunners team-mate not to make any rash decisions in leaving the Emirates.
“I stay in touch with Cesc a lot and it’s hard for me to judge what he should do,” he said.
“He and Gael Clichy are both very good players who must make their own decisions about their future. But I would advise them to stay.”
Barcelona, meanwhile, admit they have made contact with Arsenal regarding Fabregas, but say they have yet to make a formal offer. Director general Joan Oliver said: “We have had first contacts with Arsenal in which we made known our intention to talk and that’s the current situation. We are not in any hurry.”
l Young Arsenal midfielder Fran Merida last night joined Atletico Madrid on a free transfer.