‘Where Does Messi Come From?’ – Barcelona Dangle And Wenger Bites

Chris Wright

16th, February 2011

7 Comments

By Chris Wright

“I’m getting too old for this sh*t!”

It looks like Arsene Wenger has taken the bait and reacted to the claims made by Joan Laporta yesterday, in which the ex-Barca president told anyone who would listen that his former club would see the signing of Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas as ‘justice’ after the Gunners ‘fished’ him from their youth ranks back in 2003.

Wenger has duly retaliated, pointing out to the sanctimonious Catalans that, by nabbing Lionel Messi from Newell’s Old Boys at the age of 12 or by spiriting Andres Iniesta away from Albacete part-way through the third trimester, it would seem as though Barca themselves are not particularly averse to the odd fishing trip.

So said Wenger:

“Where do they get their players? Where does Messi come from? Barcelona? At what age did they take him? Twelve years old.

“There’s no reason for any bitterness because we did nothing illegal. We did not force a gun somewhere.

“We respected the rules. They could take our players, we accept that. They take their players from all over the world. Don’t expect them only to get players from Catalonia.”

In further ‘Fabregas to Barca’ guff, the Mirror are going big this morning with the news that the Spaniard’s old man, Francesc Snr, has gone on record as stating that the fruit of his loins will only leave Arsenal for the Camp Nou.

I’ll let you make up your own minds on that score:

“[Cesc Jnr] said everything he had to say very clearly last year. He is an Arsenal player at the moment and, for now, there is nothing more to say about that.”

Nope, me neither.

Posted in Arsenal, Barcelona, Transfers & Rumours

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7 Comments

  1. The Yank says:

    This is why I love Wenger. Yeah, Laporta may have been fishing for a reaction, but he didn’t want as good as reaction as this! Barca have become this entity of perfection and brilliance because thats what the media portrays them as. Wenger isn’t buying in to that crap and neither am I. If Laporta keeps setting Wenger up like this, he’ll just keep knocking them out of the park. Anything that puts a hole in Barca’s balloon.

    “Don’t expect them only to get players from Catalonia.” Face.

  2. Montesquieu says:

    LaPorta: -10 (-9 for being an idiot all of his own accord) Wenger: +100

  3. Miguel - NYC says:

    LOL – read Messi story before you actually pay attention to Wenger’s claims.
    Same with Iniesta, Xavi, Puyol, etc, etc, etc.
    How many players has produced the so called “academy” at arsenal?
    Now, try to put them at the level of the euro cup, world cup, and champions league winners Barcelona has produced. I mean really produced. Signing a player when he is 17 and not changing the way he plays is not producing a player (Walcott, Cesc). Now, take a look at Pedro before he joined Barca…he is not the same player at all. That takes nurturing and having a standard of play. Sure, Arsenal tries to do the same, but have they really and can they back it up with titles?

  4. IB says:

    People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. When was the last time Arsenal took a 9 or 12 year old in and have them become a world class player?

    I’m waiting.

    Arsenal take a lazy approach to youth development. In fact, I find Arsenal trying to criticise us for having a superior youth development policy rather laughable. Arsenal take mid / late teens on. We take school kids and pre teens on. Anyone see the difference?

  5. Miguel - NYC says:

    Maybe Arsenal fans are tired of being known as “little Barca” or for being the english team that “tries to play like barca”.
    Here is some reading for Arsenal fans to catch up on: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/9393966.stm

  6. DJ says:

    Newell’s old Boy’s couldn’t afford the payments for his growth problem so they had to let him go anyway. It’s not like Barca snatched him.

  7. RedSkywalker says:

    Can’t believe I’m saying this but I agree with Wenger!

    Laporte is a stupid twat and a hypocrite and Barca aren’t the saints the media portrays them as.

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