Messi says he hopes to play with Fabregas

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi said Thursday he hopes to one day play with Cesc Fabregas, the Arsenal captain who has made no secret of his desire to eventually join the Spanish champions.

Messi made the comments at a press conference ahead of a friendly on Sunday between Barca and Chinese side Beijing Guoan at the Bird’s Nest, to mark the second anniversary of the start of the 2008 Summer Olympics in the stadium.

“I am very much looking forward to playing with Cesc Fabregas on the same football team one day,” Messi told reporters Thursday.

Barca have gone public with their interest in Fabregas and are willing to pay around 30 million pounds (47.5 million dollars) for the privilege, but have said they respect Arsenal’s wish not to grant the transfer.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said Fabregas — part of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad — should focus on helping his current team win the Premier League rather than on a dream return to the club he left as a teenager.

Wenger has said he would like the Spanish midfielder to put an end to the rumours for good when he returns from an extended holiday following the World Cup final in South Africa.

“The speculation doesn’t stop. Who can stop it’ Only him. That is how I feel. You cannot go into a season where you read about it every day,” Wenger said at the weekend.