Xavi has claimed Arsenal are "delaying the inevitable" by trying to block Barcelona's attempts to sign Cesc Fabregas and that the transfer target told Barcelona's Spanish stars during the World Cup he wanted to join them at club level.


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Will Cesc Fabregas be playing alongside Xavi next season?
• Barca seek to build bridges

Fabregas has made up his mind about moving to Barcelona, according to Xavi, and although his respect for Arsenal's fans and the English club's resistance to sell could delay the switch for a year, he would effectively be "on loan" from Barcelona such is the certainty of his eventual move, Xavi said.

Fabregas was the subject of a reported £30million approach by the Catalan club prior to the World Cup but Arsenal appeared to gain the upper hand in the protracted saga when Barca coach Pep Guardiola conceded on Monday that the north London club would have the final say on the 23-year-old's future.

"We know where Cesc wants to be this coming season, but perhaps there is not enough time for Barcelona and Arsenal to agree a deal,'' Xavi told the Daily Express. "Arsenal need to understand they are only delaying the inevitable. If we don't manage to get his signature this season then Arsenal only really have him on loan for a year - because there is nothing they can do to stop him joining next summer.

"I haven't given up on him joining us this season but, if he doesn't, it won't be more than a year before he is back home. His people will have a whole season to sort out the deal between the two clubs and it will happen at the very latest next summer.''

Xavi claims Fabregas told his international team-mates he was keen on joining Barcelona while on World Cup duty.

"We were all with him for five weeks in South Africa and we know he wants to be at Barcelona, he made it very clear,'' Xavi said. "But he will under no circumstances do anything that will upset the Arsenal fans. And that's probably why we are going to have to wait for him for another year.''