To prove their seriousness throughout the period of the botched move, the authoritative statement even went as far as suggesting $48m was up for grabs. And according to them, all Arséne and co. needed to do was ask!
"In the light of the statement released today regarding the contractual future of Cesc Fabregas, FC Barcelona regret the decision of Arsenal FC to declare the player not for sale and their decision not to take into consideration the offers proposed. None of those offers, in any way, exceeded 40 million euros."
Well, the amount stated is still below our expectation, but it shows our Catalan counterparts actually upped the ante in the dying minutes of the transfer.
