Saturday 3 August 2013 14:35, UK
Tata Martino remains optimistic that Manchester United target Cesc Fabregas will stay at Barcelona, but concedes that 'the player also has to decide'.
Alex Song, who also played alongside Fabregas at Arsenal, recently expressed his confidence that the midfielder will be staying at Barcelona. Talking to Sky Sports News last week after Barcelona's friendly defeat at Bayern Munich, Song told Sky Sports News "I did not speak with him but I know Cesc is 100 per cent here. "He loves Barcelona, he loves the club. He will stay here next season and give 100 per cent because I know him very well and he'll want to fight. He's focused on the club. "He wants just to give his best for Barcelona. He's from Barcelona, he loves Barcelona and he'll want to start the season to show what he can do. "People are talking and talking, but we know he is focused here and ready to start the season. It's my own opinion but I know he will stay here, 100 per cent." However, United goalkeeper David De Gea says his fellow Spaniard would 'greatly improve' David Moyes' squad. "He will have to make the decision whether he wants to stay or join us," De Gea told the Manchester Evening News. "It would be a very good signing and he would help us improve greatly." Fabregas has been mooted as an ideal replacement for the retired Paul Scholes and the former United midfielder would welcome his arrival at Old Trafford. "Well, it would be nice to sign a player of that quality," he told Sky Sports News. "He's proven in the Premier League, obviously he's with Barcelona, it's a big club, it will be difficult to get him away from there. "But if you do, you have to fancy your chances strongly that we can go on and be successful with a player like that in your team."
