Cesc Fabregas is returning to Barcelona. Really.
The long-awaited transfer of Fabregas from Arsenal to Barcelona is on the verge of completion, according to various reports in both England and Spain, although the signing is not official as of yet.
Fabregas and Samir Nasri were left off the roster for Arsenal's Premier League opener this weekend against Newcastle, lending more credence to the reports that both players are set to sign elsewhere. While Fabregas seems destined to join his hometown club, where he participated in the youth academy before signing with Arsenal, Nasri appears headed to Manchester City.
Here are a few more stories from around the soccer world:
CARIBBEAN OFFICIALS UNDER INVESTIGATION
FIFA's ethics committee is looking into the actions of 16 Caribbean soccer officials in connection to former executive committee member Mohamed bin Hammam and the bribery scandal that got him banned from FIFA for life.
Bin Hammam was found guilty of bribing the officials for votes in the FIFA presidential election. He ended up withdrawing from the race but not after allegedly paying officials for their support during May meetings in Trinidad and Tobago.
WEST BROM GIVES HARGREAVES OFFER
Oft-injured Owen Hargreaves has a chance to rebuild his career at West Brom if he so chooses.
The Premier League club offered the 30-year-old Hargreaves a contract after he passed a physical. Plagued by knee injuries for a number of years, Hargreaves was let go by Manchester United after last season.
PARK TO STAY WITH UNITED THROUGH 2013
MLS All-Star Game MVP Park Ji-sung has signed a contract extension with Manchester United that will keep him at Old Trafford through 2013.
The South Korean midfielder has been with the club since 2005 and has scored 24 goals while playing key roles in important games over the years.
WOMEN'S STAR PRINZ RETIRES
Germany women's national team legend Birgit Prinz retired on Friday, ending a standout career during which she won two World Cups and scored a record-tying 14 World Cup goals.
Prinz started the first two games for Germany during this past summer's World Cup but didn't appear in the final group game of the quarterfinal in which the hosts fell to eventual champion Japan.
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What do you think of the Fabregas saga finally coming to an end? What do you make of more CONCACAF officials being under investigation? Do you think Hargreaves should join West Brom? Think Park will play a big role for United this season? Where do you rank Prinz among all-time women's soccer players?
Share your thoughts below.