Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas on Monday morning arrived in Spain to complete his move to Barcelona, who are reportedly valuing the midfielder at £130MILLION.
Fabregas was undergoing a medical in Barcelona on Monday morning and was expected to be unveiled as a Barca player by early afternoon, with personal terms believed to be have already been agreed and the midfielder ready to sign a five-year deal at the club.
Arsenal on Sunday night finally admitted defeat in their battle to keep the 24-year-old at the club and agreed a fee with the Spanish champions, believed to have been worth around £36m including add-ons.
The Daily Mirror reports that the Spanish champions will include a £130m release clause in Fabregas' contract, and while buy-out clauses are common in Spanish football, the news is sure to anger the Gunners.
According to Monday's report, Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis was wanting the club to hold out for a better deal, believing Barcelona’s £36m offer was well short of the player’s true market value.
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Manchester City and Real Madrid have all shown interest in Fabregas over the summer, and Gazidis is said to have been left annoyed that Barca have got the player on the cheap because the Spaniard made it clear he wanted to return to Camp Nou.
That meant a bidding war was avoided, and the Gunners as a result were left having to sell for less than their initial £40m valuation.
Providing Fabregas' move goes through without any further delays, he could make his Barca debut on Wednesday night at home to Real Madrid in the 2nd leg of the Supercopa.