Cesc Fábregas said nothing should be read into him wearing a Barcelona shirt during Spain's World Cup celebrations. The Arsenal captain has long been linked with a return to the club where he spent six years as a youth team player before moving to north London in 2003, and Barcelona have had a €35m (£29m) bid turned down this summer.

The Barça defenders Carles Puyol and Gerard Piqué – helped by the Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina – added to the speculation by putting a Barcelona shirt over their Spain team-mate's head as they celebrated their triumphant return to Madrid on Monday.

But Fábregas has laughed it off, saying nothing should be read into a practical joke on a night of high spirits in which Piqué was caught on camera spitting at a member of Spain's coaching staff.

"These are things that happen at special moments, and I don't think it should be gone on about much more because it was just another anecdote of a great night, a great celebration," the Arsenal midfielder said.

"There are times we do not even know what we do, so everything can be forgiven. Pepe took me there [to the front of the stage], and the truth is that I didn't know anything like that was going to happen and so I was a bit surprised. At first I thought it was a flag or something, but it's nothing. You had to enjoy it and if it's a way to have fun, it's nothing."

Fábregas grew slightly more serious when questioned further about where he will be playing next season. "I think now the less said about the subject the better, because these things are worse for everyone when they come to light and people talk more about the matter. Right now we have to be very calm and what will be will be."

Barcelona's Andrés Iniesta has said he hopes Fábregas joins him at the club. "Everybody has come out and spoken of the desire we have for him to be with us next season. We would be delighted. Not just because he is a team-mate and a friend, but because it would be great for the club.

"His arrival would give us a huge jump up in quality and he would play his part to help us stay up there competing in the big competitions. We would love him to be here."