Barcelona unhappy with poaching
May 25, 2006
Barcelona are unhappy at reports claiming Arsenal are looking to poach another one of their promising youngsters.
After luring Cesc Fabregas to London, Arsenal are reported to be looking to sign Assulin Gai, who is a member of Barca's promising youth system.
"We are a club that has invested €7 million in the youth policy and now it causes us a great problem that English clubs pay attention to our youngsters," Barca president Joan Laporta told El Mundo Deportivo.
"Before, they did it with French clubs and now it seems that they come to us.
"British clubs offer astronomical amounts to juveniles of 14, 15 and 16 years; amounts that, ethically, we cannot match.
"It happened to us with Cesc Fabregas, Gerard Pique and now it is happening to us with Fran Merida.
"What happens is that English clubs do not have their own youth systems and need to look at those who play for other teams."
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