Laporta: Fabregas a special case

The 22-year-old midfielder has made 163 league appearances for the Gunners since arriving from the Camp Nou club's youth ranks in 2003.

Fabregas has long been linked with a big-money move back to his former club, with the European champions believed to have been weighing up an offer for his services this summer.

Emirates Stadium supremo Arsene Wenger recently criticised the policies of Spanish sides, claiming their political approach can have a negative effect on the country's rising stars.

And Laporta has now apologised for causing any offence following his comments regarding the Spanish international, but insisted Fabregas was a special case, who will always have Barcelona running through his veins.

"I apologise if I bothered Mr Wenger, because I respect him very highly and the job he is doing," he said.

"But he knows perfectly that the case of Cesc Fabregas is special.

"He is a Catalan player from our youth team and it is not a secret that we love this player."

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Gregg Davies

Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.