New Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino has insisted that Cesc Fabregas will stay on at the club, saying that they would reject a third Manchester United bid, whatever the value, for the Spaniard.
According to the Guardian, the statement may leave the summer target of strategy of United boss David Moyes, who has made the midfielder his prime target, in a crisis given that he is close to entering the window's final month having yet to make a major signing.
The report further said that the Catalan club is loath to allow another of their attacking midfielders to go after losing Thiago Alcantara to Bayern Munich, for which they have so far rejected bids of 26 million pounds and 30 million pounds from United, and may not reconsider even if the Old Trafford side makes a club record offer of 35 million pounds.
Insisting that Fabregas would remain at Barcelona next season, Martino, who succeeded Tito Vilanova as coach, said that even though he is not involved in the club's accounts, he guessed that it would reject a third bid after rejecting two other offers.
According to the report, Moyes had said that negotiations were 'ongoing' for Fabregas, suggesting that his pursuit would continue a while longer and could yet have a positive outcome for United.
Reiterating Martino's stance, Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu said that even though it is logical to have offers for Fabregas given that he is a quality player, they are still going to say no, although he added that the club is not annoyed by United's offer.
Bartomeu also said that he is proud to have a player like Fabregas in the team, who is also wanted by a great club like United, adding that they are counting on Fabregas as a player.
However, the report said that Fabregas may need to make an official transfer request to force his joining United, who are convinced that he wants to leave, although it added that even that may not shift Barcelona's position on not selling the former Arsenal skipper.