Barcelona vice-president: 'Cesc Fabregas was cheap, no Man City Messi bid'

Barcelona's vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu has claimed that in the current transfer market the price Barca paid for Cesc Fabregas is cheap.

After Fabregas initially stated he wanted to return to the club of his youth a long, drawn-out transfer saga ensued before the 24-year-old finally sealed his switch to the Camp Nou for around £35m.

"After seeing the work he's done since his arrival it is true that Cesc meets the €60m valuation Arsenal initially demanded," Bartomeu told Sport.

"The kid is demonstrating a high level and quality in three weeks of training. The transfer was very good.

"In a market that is so open Cesc is worth a lot of money."

Bartomeu also denied reports in the Spanish media that Manchester City made a €50m (£44m) plus Mario Balotelli bid to bring Argentinian Lionel Messi to the Etihad Stadium.

"Our policy is not to sell our stars but on this subject it certainly did not (happen)," he added.

Barca began their La Liga campaign with a 5-0 victory over Villarreal last Monday.