Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen has admitted that team-mate Cesc Fabregas has Barcelona in his DNA.
Gunners defender makes Fabregas claim
Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen has admitted that team-mate Cesc Fabregas has Barcelona in his DNA.
The Spain midfielder, 23, has long been linked with a move to the club where he came through the ranks as a youngster and was expected to return to the Camp Nou in the summer.
However, a move back to Catalonia did not materialise despite bids from Barca, as Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was not willing to let him leave.
It is widely thought that Fabregas will return to Barcelona in the not-too-distant future, with midfielder Xavi also claiming that his international team-mate has Catalan blood running through his veins.
Now Gunners defender Vermaelen has added fuel to the fire, revealing that Fabregas has made his intentions clear to his club-mates during the summer.
The Belgian defender said: "Cesc carries Barcelona in the heart, in his DNA...therefore it is impossible for him to forget about them.
"He was determined to go to Barca last summer, he more or less confessed it in the dressing room. But that is past history.
"Now he is 100 per cent ready to put his all in to a great season with Arsenal."
Fabregas claimed earlier in the week that Arsenal would not allow him to join La Liga champions, saying: "Barcelona did all they could to sign me but Arsenal told me I had to stay, that there was no way they were going to let me go.
"In the end I had to stay - but the content of my conversation with Arsene Wenger will remain private."
Fabregas started his first game of the season for Arsenal in their 2-1 win at Blackburn and is set to keep his place for the clash with Bolton this weekend.
