A tribute to Fabregas

"Parting is such sweet sorrow" are Juliet's words to Romeo in Shakespeare's classic drama, Romeo and Juliet. An expression of how difficult it is when time shared with a loved one has to end but it is done in hope that there will be another meeting for the same thrill to be recreated or even surpassed. For Francesc Fabregas Soler, these might have been his last words to Arsenal as the 3-year old soap opera titled " Will he go or stay?" ended.
News from Arsenal insiders say Fabregas' appearance at training last Friday was a valedictory one and I can bet it was emotional too. Seeing one's colleagues for the last time after spending time with them is tough and tougher when the time period in question is 8 years but it's all gone now and the memories are the only things left.
Even from a position of a "foe" (because I'm a Manchester United fan), Fabregas's departure has robbed the EPL of a genius.I don't know how many of my Man United supporting friends will side with me but seeing Fabregas play in England was an honour. Of course, we'll see him in the Barcelona squad but not as captain, command center and choir director all in one.
Popularly called, "Nokia" in Nigeria because of stunning ability to "connect" to players with his passing, Fabregas has given us memories both pleasurable and painful.His defence-splitting pass to Nasri at the Emirates for the Frenchman to blast it past Van der Sar got me furious but objectively, it told of a master thinker.Further back in 2006, he dispossessed Cristiano Ronaldo only for the Spaniard to feed Adebayor to poke it past Kuzsack in the Man United to clinch a victory for the Gunners. Gutted I was that day but once again, there's nothing you can do when you meet superb players on their game. But Fabregas didn't only create, he scored goals too and I think my favourite was the lovely slalom run and finish against Tottenham at the Emirates. His great knee-slide celebration topped the sequence and it proved how magnificent he was. Yes, I admit he didn't have the inspiring nature as Henry and the boss-like air of Gallas but Fabregas was magnificent and he let his football talk, shout and inspire for him.
However, his 8-year spell at Arsenal had to come to an end in a rather difficult fashion because he got involved in a battle between heart and head. His love for Arsenal was evident but the constant reminder of not having a club honour to his name especially when his friends from his Barcelona B team from 2002/3 had now become winners in all aspects. Pique and Messi had won club and national team honours almost effortlessly and one of their victims on the way to these achievements was Arsenal and Fabregas. Certainly,the young Arsenal captain had to take a decision and it wasn't the easiest thing to do.
Arsenal say they'll cope without him and they'll have to. The unit must show grit to prove doubters wrong but that's Arsene Wenger's job. Fabregas' job is to keep developing as a footballer and help Barcelona extend their reign as European and Spanish champions. However, how he does that with Xavi, Iniesta and now Thiago Alcantara all in the same squad is a question that only time can answer and we'll all be privy to that answer one day.
My job as a fan is to enjoy the football and the magnificent Fabregas made me enjoy it and even though he played for the enemy, he was an enemy I would have loved to have as a friend. Truly fabulous.