Barcelona Pays $42 million to Arsenal for Cesc Fabregas
It’s official, Barcelona has finalized its deal with Arsenal to sign midfielder Cesc Fabregas to a five-year contract worth $42 million. Febregas himself will pay the Gunenrs $1.4 million out of his own salary for each season of the deal while the Spanish champions will pay up to $7 million contingent on the trophies won.
"It took a lot of years, months, days to get here ... it's nice to be home after eight years," Fabregas said in Catalan during his presentation to fans at the Camp Nou stadium, where he continuously kissed the Barcelona crest. "This is the most difficult challenge of my life."
Fabregas had been a pretty significant favorite to land in Barcelona at 1/5 odds.
Barcelona club president Sandro Rosell stated in the past that he would not pay over the odds for Fabregas and reportedly balked at the idea of paying more than $45 million.
The signing improves Barca’s odds of winning the Spanish Primera Liga 2011-2012 over rivals Real Madrid. Barcelona was listed with odds of 4/7 compared to 6/4 for Real Madrid at 888.com.
- Alistair Prescott, Gambling911.com
