体坛英语新闻：I will be focused on playing for Arsenal: Fabregas

LONDON, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Spain international Cesc Fabregas declared that he would continue to play for Arsenal rather than joining Barcelona where he spent his boyhood.

The 23-year-old midfielder has been linked with Barca all summer, with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger persistently insisting that the Premier club wouldn't sell their talented captain.

"Firstly I would like to apologize to all the Arsenal fans for not speaking sooner about my future but I have not known what I was going to do until this moment," according to a statement released by Fabregas on the Gunners website on Friday.

"I cannot deny that joining a club like Barcelona was not an attractive move for me. This was the club where I learnt my football, it is my home town where my friends and family are and a club where I have always dreamed of playing. There are not many players in this world who would not want to play for Barcelona.

"I have had many conversations with Arsene Wenger both in person and over the phone over the last few months and although the content of those conversations will remain private, the conclusion is that Barcelona have had two formal offers rejected by Arsenal," added he.

"I am a professional and I fully understand that it is Arsenal' s prerogative not to sell me. I owe a lot to the club, manager and the fans and I will respect their decision and will now concentrate on the new season ahead with Arsenal.

"I can assure all the fans that now the negotiations have ended I will be 100 percent focused on playing for Arsenal. I am an Arsenal player and as soon as I step out on to the pitch, that is the only club I will be thinking about," said Fabregas.

"I am looking forward to the start of the season and putting this speculation behind me."

Fabregas joined Arsenal as a 16-year-old in 2003 after beginning his career in Barcelona's youth academy.