Fabregas, a missed meeting in Monaco
Three years after his arrival at AS Monaco, Cesc Fabregas is leaving this summer. The former gunner of Arsenal who made the announcement these days, crossed the league 1 like a shadow. He never really responded to the expectations placed on him.
A hopeful arrival
The mountain gave birth to a mouse. The expression fits perfectly with the adventure between Cesc Fabregas and AS Monaco. And yet, many expectations were placed in the one who arrived at the time to speak about his experience and help the ASM to grow.
It was on January 11, 2019 that Fabregas arrived on The Rock from Chelsea. His recruitment had been requested by then coach Thierry Henry, his former teammate at Arsenal. The Spaniard arrives in Monaco with a no less positive record with the Blues.
In 217 games, the Catalan has 24 goals and 62 assists. He arrives in Monaco when the club, engaged in the Champions League, was struggling under the orders of Thierry Henry. The former player of the France team, who was in his first experience on a bench, will not be there for long, caught up in the bad results. AS Monaco was then in the depths of the classification. The management recalls the Portuguese Léonardo Jardim, under whose orders Fabregas then extends all this season.
A first season to make its mark
During this first half-season in his new colors, the Spaniard took part in 13 matches in Ligue 1 and 2 in the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue. That is a total of 15 games played for 1 but scored against Toulouse, for a 2-1 victory, on February 2, 2019. The club managed to narrowly escape among the elite.
ASM occupies the 17and position with 34 units, two more than the barrage, the Dijon FCO. A difficult season for the principality club. This first season, the Monegasque supporters, failing to have seen a sparkling Fabregas, remained on their thirst, postponing their hopes on the next one, the time for the player trained in Barcelona to take his marks on The rock.
The 2019-2020 season, like the first
The following season was nothing but the best for the Monaco midfielder. With the reinforcements of Wissam Ben Yedder and Gelson Martins in particular, the team is playing better. But the expected influence of Fabregas on the game is not felt. Better, Fabregas does not fit completely into Léo Jardim’s plans and must alternate with periods on the bench. This season, the 33-year-old will only make 18 league appearances for just 3 assists and none scored. He will also make 4 other appearances including two in the French Cups and as many in the League Cup. And then that’s all. Even if this season will not come to an end due to the Covid pandemic. This year, therefore, the club of the principality finished the championship at the 9and place with 40 points.
The seasons pass, but Fabregas remains the same
For the following season, it is Nico Kovac who settles on the Monegasque bench to replace Moréno. He imprints his mark on the workforce that he tailors to his measure. ASM had a great season, finishing in 3and step of the podium just behind PSG. Under the new coach, Cesc Fabregas is not exceeding his previous standards at Monaco. At the end of his first real full season with the Red and Whites, the Catalan has a total of 25 games in all competitions for 3 goals and 6 assists. If the Spaniard makes his experience speak, he does not manage to establish himself as a centerpiece of the Monegasque midfield, overtaken in particular by a radiant Aurélien Tchouaméni and a more effective Gelson Martins.
2021-2022: one season too many?
This year again, AS Monaco after a bad first part of the championship, recovered well. Philippe Clément the Belgian took the place of Kovac. The team is doing better and is having an exceptional second half of the season. With 68 points, the club is currently 2and of the championship with one day remaining. Unfortunately, Fabregas will have played very little part in the fine performances of his team. On September 25, 2021, a hamstring injury kept him away from the field. In terms of statistics, he totals 5 small games for 117 minutes of play in Ligue 1.
The end of the adventure
It is therefore on a flop that the contract which binds Cesc Fabregas to AS Monaco ends this summer. And no discussion having been initiated between him and his management, the Spaniard announced the end of his adventure in the principality. “It’s sure that it’s over between Monaco and me. My contract expires next June and I am looking for a fresh start. My head needs a fresh start somewhere else » did he declare. The former FC Barcelona player therefore does not intend to hang up his crampons now. Fabregas is hoping for one last challenge before embarking on his retraining for a possible coaching career. For the moment, no destination has been announced by the player’s entourage. “I’m open to anything, I just want to have fun. (…) The place doesn’t really matter, it’s rather my head that counts. (…). It’s just a matter of finding the right project and making it happen. I’m going to look for a new project…” he named.
What prospects for Fabregas?
So far, the midfielder has played in 3 different leagues during his career. Notably the Premier League, La Liga and now Ligue 1. If a return to Spain is therefore not to be ruled out, the 35-year-old has enjoyed more glory abroad than in Spain. Indeed, Fabregas remains an idol for supporters of Arsenal, the club where he played between 2003 and 2011 under the orders of Arsène Wenger. The 2010 world champion played 361 games, scored 63 goals and made 106 assists. On the other hand, in Barcelona, his training club which he left to go to Arsenal before returning in 2012, the Catalan never had the amplitude he had in England. An injustice for the native of Catalonia who would have liked to make history at home.
A retraining as a coach?
The proposal has already been made to him, but for Cesc Fabregas, it’s not the time yet. The 35-year-old player, father of 3 children, still wants to have fun on a playground and relive emotions. For him it would be a disappointment to finish on this with Monaco. “This year has been so bad that I can’t end on this. Not after entering this career” he indicated. “I’m grateful for the career I’ve had, but I don’t feel like it’s over. I just want to enjoy my football and continue to be competitive at a certain level.”. The player therefore hopes to revive away from ASM in a new environment for a new challenge.
So, as summer arrives, it is as a free player that Cesc Fabregas will be on the market. Will it be a good deal for the club that takes it? The sequel will tell us.
Charlie