COMMENT
Barcelona spent years trying to sign Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal. However, when the midfielder finally returned to the club where he had emerged as a talented youngster, things never quite worked out. And in 2014 he left after just three seasons, to be replaced by Ivan Rakitic.
There were few tears. A year earlier, Barca had seen the talented Thiago Alcantara depart to join Bayern Munich. He, like Cesc, was one of their own. But Fabregas' relationship with the supporters soured after some disappointing displays back at Camp Nou. So he decided to move on, Barca were happy to sell him and Rakitic has proved much more effective in his place.