Fabregas senior defends son

The Arsenal captain made it clear at the end of last season that he would love to return to the Nou Camp, where he started his career before moving to north London in 2003.

The Primera Division champion has since had a £30 million ($51.65 million) bid rejected by the Gunners, but remains keen to re-sign the 23-year-old midfielder.

Barca defenders Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique fanned the flames over a possible move by forcing a Blaugrana jersey on the Arsenal skipper upon the squad's triumphant return to Madrid from South Africa.

However, the player's father played down the incident and promised his son did not intend to offend Arsenal.

Francesc Fabregas told COM Radio: "It was a day of celebration and anything goes. If anyone misinterprets it, they have to see that it was part of a celebration.

"Cesc has it very clear what Arsenal has been and is for him. He is super grateful to them and it has never crossed his mind to do something wrong towards them.

"Cesc said what he wanted to do (sign for Barca) the day after the end of the league so that Arsenal had time to react.

"It would have been nasty to say it today, when they are almost on the verge of starting the pre-season.

"But he always did so thinking about Arsenal. It remains to be seen how everything turns out."