Fabregas happy at 'dream' club Barcelona

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Cesc Fabregas has moved to end speculation about a possible move to Manchester United by insisting he is "very happy" at Barcelona.

David Moyes' side had two bids for the former Arsenal skipper rejected by the Spanish club earlier this summer, while Barca's sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta declared at the start of the week that United had given up on trying to sign the Spain international.

Fabregas ruled out a move away from the Nou Camp while at the Confederations Cup in June but kept silent after United made their interest in him official, prompting speculation that he was in favour of a transfer.

But speaking in a press conference, the midfielder said: "Triumphing in Barcelona is what I have been hoping for all my life, it's been my dream since I was a child.

"I am very happy at Barcelona and I haven't spoken to any other club in the last two years."

Fabregas also defended not making a statement on his future in the midst of speculation about United's interest.

"I've been relaxed about it the whole time, I didn't have to clarify anything because the only thing I was thinking about was staying at Barca," he said.

"As I haven't deceived anyone or hidden anything, I told the club's press department that I would speak when it was my turn to speak to the press."

And he insisted there was never any truth in the speculation about him wanting a return to the Premier League.

"Stories have been invented," he said. "I don't know why speculation grew even after Tito (Vilanova, former Barca coach), Zubizarreta, Tata (Gerardo Martino, new Barca coach) and (Barca vice-president Josep) Bartomeu all said they wanted me to stay.

Messi happy alongside Neymar at Barcelona

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi said Thursday he has a good relationship with Brazilian wonderkid Neymar after the pair starred in Barcelona's 7-1 demolition of Thailand the night before.

Neymar scored his first goal in Barcelona colours and Messi contributed a brace against the Thai side in Bangkok on Wednesday before both strikers were substituted at half-time.

"Even though we had very little time in the team, there is no problem between us. We have a good relationship with each other and are happy to work together for Barcelona," Messi told a press conference.

The flamboyant Neymar was this week reportedly diagnosed with anaemia amid questions over whether his partnership with four-time world player of the year Messi would flourish.

But new boss Gerardo Martino said after the friendly with Thailand that the pair would complement each other, as Barca look to a reshaped front line to spearhead a defence of their La Liga crown and banish last season's Champions League humbling by Bayern Munich.

"They (Messi and Neymar) are different players but I think they showed a good understanding today," the former Paraguay coach said in Bangkok. "They found each other well."

Barcelona's 57 million euro ($75.7 million, £49.5 million) summer acquisition showed no sign of his apparent anaemia in a lively 45 minutes, the highlight of which was his landmark goal from close range on 12 minutes.

This sparking the rout as Barca cruised to a 1-5 lead at the interval.

The Catalan side return to Asia three years after their last tour of the football-mad continent -- home to a massive fan base and huge potential revenue in sponsorship.

The tour is also a final chance for Martino to assess his players before they begin their La Liga defence on August 18.

Barcelona are in Kuala Lumpur to play a Malaysia XI on Saturday in the second leg of their Asian tour.

Fabregas happy at 'dream' club Barcelona

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Cesc Fabregas has moved to end speculation about a possible move to Manchester United by insisting he is "very happy" at Barcelona.

David Moyes' side had two bids for the former Arsenal skipper rejected by the Spanish club earlier this summer, while Barca's sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta declared at the start of the week that United had given up on trying to sign the Spain international.

Fabregas ruled out a move away from the Nou Camp while at the Confederations Cup in June but kept silent after United made their interest in him official, prompting speculation that he was in favour of a transfer.

But speaking in a press conference, the midfielder said: "Triumphing in Barcelona is what I have been hoping for all my life, it's been my dream since I was a child.

"I am very happy at Barcelona and I haven't spoken to any other club in the last two years."

Fabregas also defended not making a statement on his future in the midst of speculation about United's interest.

"I've been relaxed about it the whole time, I didn't have to clarify anything because the only thing I was thinking about was staying at Barca," he said.

"As I haven't deceived anyone or hidden anything, I told the club's press department that I would speak when it was my turn to speak to the press."

And he insisted there was never any truth in the speculation about him wanting a return to the Premier League.

"Stories have been invented," he said. "I don't know why speculation grew even after Tito (Vilanova, former Barca coach), Zubizarreta, Tata (Gerardo Martino, new Barca coach) and (Barca vice-president Josep) Bartomeu all said they wanted me to stay.

Messi happy alongside Neymar at Barcelona

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi said Thursday he has a good relationship with Brazilian wonderkid Neymar after the pair starred in Barcelona's 7-1 demolition of Thailand the night before.

Neymar scored his first goal in Barcelona colours and Messi contributed a brace against the Thai side in Bangkok on Wednesday before both strikers were substituted at half-time.

"Even though we had very little time in the team, there is no problem between us. We have a good relationship with each other and are happy to work together for Barcelona," Messi told a press conference.

The flamboyant Neymar was this week reportedly diagnosed with anaemia amid questions over whether his partnership with four-time world player of the year Messi would flourish.

But new boss Gerardo Martino said after the friendly with Thailand that the pair would complement each other, as Barca look to a reshaped front line to spearhead a defence of their La Liga crown and banish last season's Champions League humbling by Bayern Munich.

"They (Messi and Neymar) are different players but I think they showed a good understanding today," the former Paraguay coach said in Bangkok. "They found each other well."

Barcelona's 57 million euro ($75.7 million, £49.5 million) summer acquisition showed no sign of his apparent anaemia in a lively 45 minutes, the highlight of which was his landmark goal from close range on 12 minutes.

This sparking the rout as Barca cruised to a 1-5 lead at the interval.

The Catalan side return to Asia three years after their last tour of the football-mad continent -- home to a massive fan base and huge potential revenue in sponsorship.

The tour is also a final chance for Martino to assess his players before they begin their La Liga defence on August 18.

Barcelona are in Kuala Lumpur to play a Malaysia XI on Saturday in the second leg of their Asian tour.