Cesc Fábregas coy about future but dedicates win to Arsenal fans

Cesc Fábregas has dedicated Spain's World Cup success to his Arsenal team-mates and staff but shied away from committing his future to the club, with Barcelona still hopeful of signing the midfielder. The London club's captain was a late substitute in normal time at Soccer City yesterday, with his introduction serving to liberate Andrés Iniesta. Fábregas duly supplied his team-mate with the only goal four minutes from the end of extra time. The celebrations were raucous in the aftermath and the 23-year-old briefly let his guard slip to suggest he might be on the verge of leaving the Emirates Stadium, only subsequently to backtrack. "All I can say is that this is for the Arsenal players, for the Arsenal fans, for the manager and for all of the staff," said Fábregas. "I had a text from Arsène Wenger which said: 'Congratulations, you deserve it.' I replied thanking him very much and said this is for all the Arsenal club, manager and players who have helped me be where I am today. I am really proud to have been an Arsenal player. It is for all of them – they deserve it and they have a world-famous club." That was quickly corrected, with the midfielder adding: "I am an Arsenal player and I am really proud to be able to give this trophy to all the fans." Wenger, who has been working as a media pundit for French television at the finals, had opted against meeting the new Barcelona president, Sandro Rosell, when he visited South Africa over the weekend hoping to discuss Fábregas's proposed move back to the Camp Nou. That transfer now appears increasingly unlikely to come to fruition ahead of the new domestic campaign, with the Spanish champions struggling to raise the fee to match Arsenal's valuation and Wenger, in particular, reluctant to lose a player who is contracted to the London club until 2015. An opening bid of around £30m has already been rejected by the Premier League club and, even if an improved offer nearer £40m is lodged, Arsenal would value Fábregas far higher. The Spaniard admitted he was "living a dream" having added the World Cup to the European crown secured two years ago, though he made a point at the final whistle of seeking out his club-mate Robin van Persie to offer his commiserations at the defeat. "I had to go to Robin instead of celebrating with my friends because I think he deserved to have won it as well," said Fábregas. "It's been really hard for him. He has been injured for such a long time, and this was his moment. If it hadn't been us he was playing against, I would have been on his side. "So, even though I was happy to have won, I was sad for him. He just said: 'Congratulations, enjoy the moment.' I really hope he has his chance again and that he wins it. He is a great guy, a great leader, and has been really unlucky with injuries. I hope he has his moment in the future." Yet the Spanish will stand in all-comers' way for some time to come. This was the country's first World Cup at their 13th attempt, but their players are now intent upon maintaining their dominance. "We have made history and to win this after the Euros is brilliant but the basics are there with this team," said Xabi Alonso. "The style is there, the mentality is there, the team spirit is there. If we keep working in this way, many more big things may come." "We have been playing good football since Euro 2008, and we still have a special team and a special squad," added Fábregas. "Last time we had the likes of Marcos Senna, now we have Sergio Busquets, Gerard Piqué and other young players. We have great players coming through. Spanish football is growing still and we have to be proud of it. This is the best thing that could have happened to a group of players. We are living a dream. This was a great moment for every Spaniard. I'm never going to take this medal off."