Daily Mail

Fabregas and Ibrahimovi­c in Paris bust-up

- By KIERAN GILL and BEN GROUNDS

CESC FABREgAS and Zlatan Ibrahimovi­c were involved in a heated exchange following Chelsea’s defeat by Paris Saintgerma­in on Tuesday night.

The fracas happened as Fabregas was leaving the Parc des Princes after their Champions League last-16 tie, which ended 2-1 to PSg.

It is believed the Chelsea squad were unhappy with what Ibrahimovi­c said to players on the pitch and Fabregas demanded an explanatio­n. The Sweden star initially ignored Fabregas, before responding to the 28- year- old Spain midfielder.

Ibrahimovi­c also exchanged words with other Chelsea players, before seeking out British media in the mixed zone to reveal that he is open to a move to the Barclays Premier League this summer.

Susana guasch, a Spanish pitchside reporter who was covering the match for TV station Antena 3, said on Twitter: ‘Run-in between Ibra and Cesc on leaving the stadium. He said: “you spoke too much today”. Fabregas asked him for explanatio­ns.

‘But Ibra pretended not to hear. And they took Cesc away so that it did not escalate any further.’

It is understood that Fabregas (right with Ibrahimovi­c) was not pulled away by Chelsea officials and the players simply went their separate ways. Ibrahimovi­c scored the opening goal for PSg as they won to take a first-leg advantage to Stamford Bridge in three weeks.

Meanwhile, Roy Keane has launched a withering attack on Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard, claiming he would ‘kick him up and down the training pitch’ if they were team-mates.

Hazard told Le Parisien this week that it would be difficult to turn down a move to Paris Saintgerma­in. But the timing of that interview stunned Keane.

‘I can’t understand these players,’ the former Manchester United captain said on ITV’s Champions League highlights show.

‘He signed a fiveyear extension only last year, when we saw how brilliant he was, and then he’s coming out with all that nonsense on the eve of a big game. If I was a team- mate of his I would kick him up and down the training pitch. Some of the senior players have got to get hold of him. He’s a talented boy, but his attitude is like a spoiled child. It was absolutely ridiculous.’

glenn Hoddle, a former Chelsea player and manager, said: ‘If he wants to go to a club that wins the league by 30 points each year, he’s not testing himself. That’s what disappoint­s me.

‘He’s got to knuckle down and play well for Chelsea, that’s who’s paying his money now.

‘He’s a top player. Last year he was exquisite and probably won the league in the first half of last season for Chelsea, but he’s nowhere near that level now.’

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