We got Cesc on the cheap, boasts Barcelona supremo



Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu believes the club's £35million acquisition of Cesc Fabregas was 'a very good deal'.



The 24-year-old completed his protracted return to his boyhood team last month - eight years after leaving to sign for the Gunners as a teenager in 2003 - and has made an impressive start to life back in Catalonia.



He scored a stunning goal in the European Super Cup against Porto and also netted against Villarreal on his Primera Division debut, prompting Bartomeu to observe that the World Cup winner's real valuation is closer to the £52.5m Arsenal initially demanded.



Cesc-y football: Cesc Fabregas swapped Arsenal for Barcelona this summer

'The transfer of Cesc was a very good deal for us,' he said.



'His real price was what Arsenal initially asked - at least 60m euros.



'The fact that we announced in advance that we would only spend 45m euros this summer worked to our advantage. Clubs were already aware of our position.'



Bartomeu also remained hopeful that coach Pep Guardiola, who has guided Barca to three straight La Liga titles and two Champions League crowns since taking over in summer 2008, will commit to the club beyond this season.



Winner: Fabregas celebrates scoring the winner against Chile with the Spanish national side

'He's very smart and he will say [when he's ready to talk],' said the vice-president. 'We will give all the tools so that when we talk it will be very difficult to say no.'



Reports have claimed Barca had reached a pre-contract agreement with Santos for Brazil teenager Neymar to sign in two years' time - something the Brazilian club deny - and Bartomeu was coy on the topic.



'He's a great player and young,' he said. 'There are European clubs who want him. It is Barcelona's obligation to follow young talent who will be good.'





