Now that Cesc Fabregas has very reluctantly pledged his future to Arsenal for another season, this morning’s papers all feature quotes from the statement the Spanish international released to the media yesterday, but the Irish Sun are claiming it as an exclusive all of their own.
‘Cesc exclusive: Barca dream is over’ goes the headline on the back page, relating to a story inside containing sprinkling of Fabregas’ brutally honest quotes about wanting to join his hometown club, but being denied that chance due to Arsenal’s determination to get the right price for their biggest star.
“I would be lying if I said that joining a club like Barcelona was not an attractive move for me,†said Fabregas.
The Barcelona deal is dead. It is gone now and I have to face up to that, to accept it. And I can do that. I will do that,†he added.
The future of Manchester City’s Stephen Ireland seems far more uncertain, with this morning’s Daily Star suggesting that the midfielder could be sold to Aston Villa as part of a deal to bring highly-rated midfielder James Milner to Eastlands.
‘Ireland and €22 million gets Milner’ is the headline on the back page, with a report suggesting that Ireland and his advisors are currently putting the final touches to a reported €80,000 a week deal over four years with the Birmingham club.
Closer to home, the big draw this weekend is the All-Ireland semi-final clash between Cork and Kilkenny, with the Leesiders attempting to stop the Cats’ bid for immortality by being the first team to win five All-Ireland titles on the trot.
The Irish Independent’s hurling analyst Cyril Farrell believes that the Rebels have absolutely nothing to lose and will push Brian Cody’s side all the way on Sunday afternoon.
“Cork are going into the game in the ideal situation,†writes Farrell.
“They are unfancied outside of their own camp do there’s no weight of expectation.
“And then there’s the historical dimension, which shows that that Cork-Kilkenny games can take on a life of their own, irrespective of the background.â€
