Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has firmly denied that a personal phone call from Josep Guardiola could convince him to join Barcelona this summer.
The 22-year-old is linked with a return to Spain following the opening of every transfer window but suggestions that a move to Catalunya could be on the horizon were seemingly given extra credence over the weekend.
While stating in an interview with Barcelona-based daily Sport that he was happy at Arsenal, Fabregas appeared to intriguingly hint that if he was to be contacted by his hero Guardiola then ‘It would be different’.
But with his commitment to Arsenal called into question, Fabregas has sought to clarify the comments that he made regarding a return to Camp Nou, where he begun his footballing education before moving to North London at the age of 16.
"I never said it,” Fabregas told Marca.
“It would mean a tremendous amount to me because Guardiola has been my idol forever. To whom wouldn't it be a dream? Him calling me would mean a lot.
"Right now my future is in the same situation. Arsenal have already said that I am not transferable, which fills me with pride.
"If some day I left Arsenal, I wouldn't stay in England. As a Spaniard, everyone knows that I would like to play in the Spanish league. In England there are four teams who are superior to the rest and in Spain it is more equal."
Regarding his brush with the Spanish media that made headlines in England, Fabregas added: "You have to be careful not to fall into this kind of trap."