Arsenal: Fabregas not for sale

London - Arsenal says it has "no intention" of selling captain Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona, rejecting a formal offer from the Spanish champion for the midfielder.

Arsenal said in a statement Wednesday that Fabregas is "a highly valued member of the team and part of our future plans." It stressed that the Spain midfielder is under contract until 2015 and that it expects Barcelona to "respect our position."

Barcelona club director general Joan Oliver said the club had made a written offer to Arsenal on Tuesday at the start of the official transfer window.

Oliver said "everybody knows that Cesc wants to sign for Barcelona and that we also want him to come here."

The 23-year-old Fabregas left Barcelona for Arsenal when he was 16.