Speedster So by signing the longest contracts I'm guessing you're agreeing that he showed the most commitment.
He had a contract until 2014 in 2006. Which he renewed a couple of times with the end date still the same. I'm sure his renewals were more financially motivated than anything else seeing as he signed as a 17/18 year old until 2014. Everything after that was renegotiating more money for the same length.
Speedster Who do you feel stayed longer into the shit while being a top player?
Henry rejected them in 2006 because of the CL final result. Still joined them a year later, however only after giving us his best years and leavinh as our top ever scorer winning us numerous trophies. They are not the same situation. Hleb, Song and whoever else joined them as soon as an offer was made. Fabregas himself joined as soon as they made an offer going on strike to force it.
Speedster Who do you feel rejected peak Barca(or similar) for longer?
That's the thing. Peak Barca began towards the end of 08/09 when they won their treble. Like I said, even if we were to believe they tried to sign him before he actually left, this was only in 2009 and 2010. This is because prior to 2008 Guardiola had not been in charge of Barca, nor did he have this great reputation, and most importantly Barca did not have any huge pull having not won anything since the year they beat us in the CL in 2006.
As such I am heavily sceptical that there was any real desire from Fabregas to join them before Barca and Spain took winning things to another level starting with the Euros in 2008 and Barca winning their first titles in 08/09. This was the start of peak Barca after which he stayed 2 seasons despite being under contract for 5 years in 2009. Everything before 2009 was Barca just posturing and putting stuff out there to unsettle him. They were never serious about taking him because frankly they never needed him. They just wanted him unsettled and it worked. That's why they never made a bid so there was nothing to reject. When they finally, finally came in for him you saw him go on strike and force the move.
