Fabregas: Wenger ´like a father to me´

Cesc Fabregas says he is ‘happy to be home’ after sealing his transfer to Barcelona, but has paid tribute to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

Fabregas passed a medical on Monday before signing a five-year deal with Barca for an initial 29 million plus variables, bringing to an end a protracted transfer saga which has dragged on for three seasons.

Fabregas was presented to some 20,000 fans at Camp Nou and then unveiled to the press following a video montage showing some of his best career moments.

“I am very grateful to be back home,” the midfielder said.

“I felt I had to catch this train. I didn’t know if the train would come by again; I thought maybe this would be my last chance to come to Barca.”

Fabregas links up with Barca coach – and former idol – Pep Guardiola and revealed his excitement at playing for the club’s most famous number four, which the 24-year-old will wear at the La Liga club.

“Pep is a great coach and I am looking forward to working with him,” he said.

“Whether it’s the Copa Catalunya or the Champions League, I will be at his disposal.”

Nevertheless, Fabregas said he will always be a fan of the English Premier League club, who he had captained for three seasons.

“All I can have is gratitude,” he said.

“I will never forget what they did for me and I was very, very sad to be leaving – I spent one third of my life there.”

“Wenger was like a father to me. He did so much for me and without him I wouldn’t be here now.”

“I spoke to him on Friday and it was so hard. At one point I couldn’t even talk because I was so sad. It was hard to say goodbye and hard to leave. He has done more for me than anyone and he is the best person I have met in football.”

Cesc could make his Barca debut in Wednesday’s Supercopa second-leg match against the club’s fierce rivals, Real Madrid.

The first leg finished in a 2-2 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.