Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini has expressed his disappointment at Cesc Fabregas’ decision to join Premier League rivals Chelsea, envisioning it will be strange to play against his former Arsenal team-mate rather than with him.
Barcelona playmaker Fabregas was caught in a fracas last month when Jose Mourinho’s Blues sealed a £30M agreement with the La Liga giants for the player who prior to his move to Barca in 2011, was a long-serving Gunner, former club captain and fans’ favourite.
The Spaniard was believed to have been snubbed by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who choose not to exercise the buy-back clause in his contract. As a consequence this left the player free to sign for any other club that offered an attractive proposal instead of making his return to The Emirates.
It so happened that the club that most wanted Fabregas was Chelsea, one of Arsenal’s biggest rivals, and his decision to join Mourinho’s side sparked huge backlash from Gunners supporters who viewed his change in allegiance as treacherous.
Fabregas’ former midfield partner Flamini expressed his own disappointment at the 27-year-old’s decision, but said he is looking forward to having him back in London.
At the launch event for the new Arsenal PUMA kit, he told reporters: “I had an amazing time with him at Arsenal and he stayed a very close friend of mine.
“I’m a bit disappointed that he’ll be playing with Chelsea rather than us, but I respect his decision and I’m very happy for him because I’m sure that if he’s moving back it’s because he wanted it.
“I’m also very happy that he’s coming back to London because he’s going to be my neighbour, so I’ll see him a lot!”
Flamini believes seeing the Spanish star playing against him in blue, will take some getting used to.
“It will be very strange to play against him, and it won’t be easy – we were laughing about it when I saw him a few days ago.
“But I’m happy because it will give me the opportunity to see him a bit more than when he was in Barcelona.”