BARCELONA – fresh from signing Javier Mascherano – will launch a £100million double swoop for Cesc Fabregas and Fernando Torres next summer.
That’s the amazing claim of Nou Camp midfielder Xavi.
The World Cup winner reckons the Catalan giants are determined to land the two Spanish superstars.
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Barca swooped for Liverpool’s Argie midfielder Mascherano in a £22m deal at the end of last week.
And Xavi reckons they are determined to raid the Premier League again in 2011 for Liverpool striker Torres, 26, and Arsenal captain Fabregas, 23.
Madrid-born Torres has been chased by Chelsea and Manchester City – but has told friends he will only move back to Spain. Barcelona-born Fabregas has publicly asked for a move back to his hometown club – but Arsenal rejected a £29m offer for their free-scoring skipper.
Xavi, 30, said: “Every Barcelona player wanted Cesc to join this year – we made no secret of that.
“But we are prepared to wait another year.
“Everybody in football knows where Cesc’s heart is.
“He’s from Barcelona and was a youngster at the club. It’s not like we have to try to convince him to join – it’s where he wants to be.
“Arsenal have him for another year and, during this season, they will have time to either develop one of their younger players or scout a replacement to buy when Cesc leaves. Everybody is very calm.
“We know the longest we have to wait for Cesc to come home is another 12 months.
“Everybody can live with that. We would love Nando at Barcelona too – he is the most complete striker in the world.
“We have seen what he and David Villa can do for Spain and to have that every week at club level would be frightening.
“I believe he is getting quite disheartened.”
And Xavi is scathing about Torres’ club prospects for this season.
The Spaniard had a close look at Liverpool as the Merseyside club dumped Barca out of the Champions League in 2007 – the season before Torres joined.
And Xavi added: “The season before last Liverpool sold Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid – and now this season they have sold Mascherano.
“Being brutally honest they haven’t brought any top-class players in to replace the ones they have sold.
“They haven’t tried to improve the squad.
“Nando deserves to be playing with the best players like he does with Spain.
“If Liverpool have another disappointing season that will be it for him.”
If the striker were to leave, Xavi has no doubts about where he would choose to move to.
He added: “Our coach Pep Guardiola is a big admirer of Nando.
“If he wanted to leave next summer, I would imagine Barcelona to be very much in the running.
“It would cost a lot to bring both Cesc and Nando to the club – but it would be worth it and, in my opinion, make us virtually unstoppable.”
As for lining up alongside new Argie signing Mascherano this season, Xavi feels Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson had no option other than to sell.
Xavi has played for Barcelona his entire career – with over 500 appearances – as well as 95 Spain caps.
He has five La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues to his name and added: “It was public knowledge we had made a bid for Mascherano.
“It just came down to Barcelona and Liverpool agreeing terms.
“Liverpool were in the weak position because their player didn’t want to play for the club.
“The player’s family was unhappy in England. There was no point trying to keep him.”
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view...ernando-Torres/
