Barcelona have aimed a parting dig at Cesc Fabregas for not scoring enough goals during his three years at the club. The midfielder, who has signed for Chelsea, managed to score 42 goals in 151 matches for the Catalan giants.
But the club has claimed that the Spaniard was ‘never as good in the second half of the season as the first’ and that, as the years went on, there was a ‘downward trend in his stats’. They did admit his goal haul was ‘quite impressive for a midfielder’ but they suggested it was down to the fact he played in a ‘false centre forward role’.
The statement about Fabregas leaving on Barca’s official website read: ‘Despite glowing starts to each campaign, Cesc’s contributions to the cause gradually decreased as each season drew to a close.
‘From being someone who joined in with the attack, supplying and scoring goals, the magic tended to fade later on in each season. He only scored one, six and one goal in the last 24 games of each season. For some reason, he was never as good in the second half of a season as in the first.’
However, the midfielder’s teammate Xavi was a bit more positive about him, saying: “It’s great news for him. I have seen him and he is looking very happy. He will be an important loss for Barcelona but I know it is what he wanted. He is my friend and I wish him well.”
By Charlie Gregory
@CharlieGLFC
