Barca Give Fábregas £175 Million Contract Clause

Cesc Fábregas can finally be called an ex-Arsenal player after signing a 5 year contract with his boyhood club Barcelona on Monday.

The Spanish star who began his footballing career in the Catalan giants' youth academy has returned to his footballing roots after a transfer saga thats lasted almost 3 years.

Arsenal finally agreed to a fee, estimated to be around £35 million, on Sunday while Barcelona reported that after medical exams over the weekend the newest addition to the Camp Nou was in perfect physical condition.

The total cost of Fábregas' move is unknown but many believe Cesc to have waved the £4 million compensation he would be entitled to for the remainder of his contract from the Gunners.

Barca have made sure Fábregas is a long term investment by not only giving the 24 year old a 5 year contract but also slapping on a £175 million (200 million euros) buy-out clause to deter would-be suitors from snapping up Cesc in the near future.

Barca's spending looks to be over for now having also picked up Udinese star Alex Sanchez in early August.

“Its Our Time To Qualify”

With the start of the Premier League season and just three weeks before two vital European Championship Qualifiers, mid-August is a hectic period for players expecting call ups for international duty.

It's also a great chance for one Ireland International to show his former employers that they were wrong for leaving him wallowing on the sidelines for 12 months.

Shay Given has managed to maintain his International starting spot despite only making four appearances for Manchester City during the 2010/11 season. But after moving south to Aston Villa this summer Given is ready to remind the football viewing public just why he was considered one of the premier Leagues top goalkeepers.

Given remained Ireland's first choice through
2010/11

“Of course,” was Given's response when asked if he'd missed playing regular league football.

“You train all week to play at the weekend, its just very frustrating when you don't play. Last year was frustrating.”

But frustration at a lack of playing time will be the last thing on Given's mind this season as he put on a dominating display between the posts to keep a clean sheet on his Aston Villa debut.

That dominance between the posts has continued when wearing his national colours over the last 12 months, but the 34 year old still seemed pleasantly surprised to hear that he hadn't conceded on international duty since 17^th November 2010.

The run of clean sheets when Given starts has added to the belief in the Ireland camp that European qualification is a real possibility, their first since their last appearance in the tournament in 1988.

“We're confident,” said Given.

“We had a great result in Macedonia and a great result in Belgium away to Italy as well so I think we're unbeaten in the last 10 or 11 games away from home so that will stand us in good stead.”

That away form will be tested in the second of their two ties during the coming international break when Ireland travel to Russia in a game that could see Ireland take control of their group should they also take three points against Slovakia in Dublin four days before.

“We've got a big month next month, huge games obviously,

“Trapattoni has given us a real belief that when we go away form home we can get results and there's a real belief in that squad that touch wood, this is our time to qualify.”

Ireland host Slovakia on 2/9/2011 before traveling to face Russia away on 6/9/2011

Back Between The Posts: Shay Given Returns to First Team Football

“It's nice to feel wanted as part of a team”

Those were the words Shay Given used to describe his Aston Villa debut at Fulham last saturday.

An unhappy Given watches
on from the Man City bench.

The Irish national keeper was finally able to put his Manchester City nightmare behind him after his move to the midlanders this summer, and despite only picking up a point at Craven Cottage Given was obviously delighted to be the back between the posts in competitive league football.

“For me personally knowing I was going to be playing was pretty special, its great to be back and nice to start with a clean sheet.”

Given had every right to be pleased after producing a performance that kept his new club in a tie that, on another day, could have seen Villa leave the capital pointless.

After keeping Andy Johnson's effort out just before half time Given twice denied Fulham striker Bobby Zamora, first with a reflex save from close range and then moments later using his legs to keep the English striker from breaking the deadlock.

But Given was unable to pick out a choice save from the afternoon when asked.

“I dunno..... all of them, as long as you keep the ball out of the net it doesn't matter,” adding modestly

“the lads put some great blocks in in front of me as well which deserve great credit.”

The blocks in question came from defenders Steven Warnock, fellow Ireland International Richard Dunne and striker Emile Heskey as Villa pushed back a Fulham side that was able to fashion the more clearcut chances on the day.

Still Got It. Given denies Bobby Zamora from six yards.

“Its a good result

“We've started with a tough away point,” but Given's thoughts soon turned to the following weeks fixture at home to Blackburn.

“It'll be nice to go there to Villa Park [next week] and hopefully have a big crowd and if we can get three points thats the most important thing.

“We want to get a first victory on the board and hopefully we can do it at home next week.”