Barca in bitter feud with Arsenal
Posted Tuesday, February 22, 2011 by The Sun
ARSENAL and Barcelona are locked in a bitter bust-up that is souring relations between the Champions League rivals.
The Spaniards are furious with Arsenal for trying to snatch 16-year-old wonderkid Jon Miquel Toral Harper from their academy — just like they did with Cesc Fabregas.
SunSport can reveal the storm erupted before the clubs clashed at the Emirates last Wednesday as Barca president Sandro Rosell made his opinions forcibly known to Gunners chief executive Ivan Gazidis.
An eye witness said: "Rosell seemed to be raising his voice at Gazidis who stayed calm and did not respond. It was clear, though, that Rosell was particularly angry."
The Catalan giants are furious with the Gunners for trying to lure midfielder Toral. He has an English mother and is, I understand, now close to signing a professional contract with the Gunners.
Ironically, he has already appeared in a Nike advert alongside Fabregas!
The bitter bust-up is now threatening to overshadow the return leg at the Nou Camp when Arsenal defend a 2-1 lead.
There is no suggestion the Gunners have done anything untoward but the Catalans are up in arms.
Rosell is particularly sensitive about this issue as he was vice-president when the Gunners nabbed Fabregas back in 2003.
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