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Messi makes Cesc plea

Image: Messi: Would welcome Fabregas

Lionel Messi has admitted he would be 'delighted' if Cesc Fabregas joined Barcelona this summer.

Barca star feels Fabregas would be a great addition

Lionel Messi has admitted he would be 'delighted' if Cesc Fabregas joined Barcelona this summer. The Arsenal captain has been heavily linked with a move to the Catalan giants, with the 23-year-old having been pictured in a Barca shirt during the Spanish national team's celebrations after winning the World Cup. Messi is now the latest in a list of Barcelona players to reveal their desire to see Fabregas move to Camp Nou, following pleas from Carles Puyol, Xavi, Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta to join the ranks. Fabregas has not yet revealed whether he will leave the Gunners to rejoin the club where he started his career, but Messi confessed it would be a great move. "I would be delighted if he came," Messi said "We played together as kids (in Barca's youth team) and he knows the club."

Villa excitement

Messi also stated his excitement at the possibility of playing with David Villa, who left Valencia this summer to join the Spanish champions. "He will be really good for us. He has already shown what he can do at Valencia and in the Spanish national team. Let's hope we can be together soon to start preparing for the new season," he said. The 22-year-old also issued his desire to see Diego Maradona stay as coach of Argentina, who is under intense pressure to leave following their 4-0 exit to Germany in their World Cup quarter-final. "It's up to him to decide whether he stays or not," Messi added. "For me, he should stay."

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