Real want Cesc

Monday, 13, Mar 2006 09:22

New Real Madrid president Fernando Martin has confirmed that the Spanish giants are keen to sign Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

The 18-year-old has been capped by Spain since joining Arsenal and has won rave reviews in his native press for his displays as the Londoners knocked Real out of the Champions League.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was highly critical of comments from the Real camp highlighting their interest in signing the youngster before the crucial second leg, describing them as an attempt to unsettle his team.

But Martin insisted that the club's interest in Fabregas was genuine, describing him as the sort of player the club needs to address the concerns of three years without silverware.

"Cesc is a very good player, young, with potential, desire and a big future," he said in a Spanish radio interview.

"That is the kind of player we must sign. He fulfils the requirements of what Real Madrid needs," said the president, who assumes full control of the club on Thursday, following Florentino Perez's resignation last month.

But Fabregas is under contract at Highbury until 2011 and has said he is happy to stay in London.

"The team is getting better and better. We still have a lot to improve but we are working very hard," he said.

"Arsene Wenger is a great manager who is always doing positive things for the youngsters," he continued,

"He has given us confidence and we have to take it and pay him back for what he is doing for us. I think we are doing well."