Cesc Fabregas: 'Barcelona tried to stop my move to Chelsea'

Cesc Fabregas has revealed that Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu tried to stop the midfielder from signing for Chelsea.

The former Arsenal captain will return to the Premier League this summer after the Blues secured a transfer, reported to cost around £27m, last week.

Manchester United were also linked with the Spain international, while Arsenal decided against activating a buy-back option after Fabregas held talks with manager Arsene Wenger.

"I asked Barcelona to find a way for me to leave the club," Fabregas told Cadena Cope. "The president tried to stop the sale, but I already had my mind made up.

"At the time, I spoke with [sporting director] Andoni Zubizarreta and the president and I told them I wanted to leave. Honestly, it all went really smoothly. I'm not leaving for any specific reason, if not for a multitude of different things, my own errors and that's it.

"If I didn't think that I'd be happy at Chelsea, I would've never made this decision. Above all, I want to be happy both professionally and personally."

Fabregas joined Barcelona in 2011 after eight years with Arsenal.