Cesc Fabregas: I quit Arsenal for Barcelona to get fresh start

CESC FABREGAS revealed he needed to quit Arsenal because he had gone stale.

The Spanish star finally joined Barcelona in a £40million deal this week.

And he admitted: "I'd stagnated a bit, I needed a change of scenery.

"The easiest thing would have been to stay at Arsenal. I'm the captain, playing every game. We are always in the Champions League, always fighting for titles.

"But I needed a special motivation to bring the best out of myself."

Fabregas, 24, will fight for a place with Xavi and Andres Iniesta as well as youngster Thiago Alcantara at the Nou Camp.

He added: "Perhaps now might be the worst time to return to Barca because it's going to be really tough to make the starting XI.

"But I needed a new challenge in my life."

Fabregas' La Liga debut is on hold after talks aimed at averting a players' strike over wage guarantees failed.

This weekend's opening round of matches are all postponed.