Barca won't pay £50m for Cesc

New Barcelona president Sandro Rosell says the club will not be held to ransom to buy Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal.

The Catalan club have made no secret of their desire to buy the Gunners captain and have already had a €35million (Ј30m) bid turned down by manager Arsene Wenger.

But the Spaniards have maintained their interest in the midfielder and are keen to recruit the 23-year-old as their second signing of the summer.

Barca have brought in David Villa from Valencia and are looking to bring Fabregas back to Camp Nou following his departure as a 16-year-old to the Londoners.

Over the odds

However, Rosell said he would not submit to an inflated demand for the player's services.

"We will never pay €50 or 60 million (around Ј50m) for Cesc," Rosell told radio station RAC1 . "The whole world knows he wants to come and that we want to sign him."

Barca's long-held desire to buy Fabregas has been well-documented and Wenger is no rush to allow his prize asset to head out of the Emirates Stadium exit.

The La Liga champions are said to be willing to offer €40million for Fabregas and Rosell admitted the high-profile pursuit has added to the price slapped on his head.

He added: "It's a topic that has become so public and that's the worst thing you can do with a transfer, because it makes the selling club raise their expectations and you end up paying over the odds."

Negotiations came to a pause following Arsenal's rejection of the first bid and no further talks have been possible as Wenger is commentating on the World Cup finals in South Africa for French television.

Assurance

And Rosell said: "I can assure you I will try and talk with him in South Africa."

While manager Pepe Guardiola could see Fabregas come into play central midfield for his team one player who has vacated the berth is Yaya Toure.

The Ivory Coast man has joined Manchester City to link up with defender and brother Kolo at Eastlands and Rosell revealed he would have liked the ball-winner to have remained with his side.

"We don't know if it was his agent or his brother (Kolo) who pressure him to leave for City, but we tried (to get him to stay)," said Rosell.

"(But) when a player is not 150% sure he wants to be at a club, it is better for everyone if they move on."

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