It was a bitter transfer war that raged for more than a year, sparking hostility between two of Europe's grandest clubs.
The source of the hostility is simple - the Spanish giants have never forgiven Gunners boss Arsene Wenger for spiriting Fabregas away at 16.
But that 2003 swoop was just the start of the incredible rift that now exists between these European titans.
The loss of four more starlets to Arsenal since then has led to a total meltdown in relations - a chasm only widened by Barca's bid to take Fabregas 'home'.
Arsenal have been dismayed at how the Spaniards pursued their captain since last year and the stunts that were pulled to try and force through a deal.
Like Nou Camp stars using Spain's 2010 World Cup-winning celebrations to try and parade Fabregas in a Barcelona shirt.
Like Spanish team-mate Xavi hailing Fabregas as his 'successor' and revealing how Fab was 'suffering' because his dream move to his boyhood club was being blocked.
Yet Barcelona vehemently claim they are the injured party, arguing Fabregas was the first of five youngsters they groomed only for Arsenal to controversially whisk them away.
Fabregas was followed by Fran Merida, Ignasi Miquel, Hector Bellerin and Jon Toral - much to the dismay of the Spaniards who had invested heavily in their development.
So no wonder the protracted negotiations for Fabregas have been so acrimonious.
A Barcelona source said: "It's true the negotiations have been fraught and full of recriminations.
"Arsenal keep complaining, they say we are trying to sign Cesc on the cheap and keep asking for more cash. "But we feel we have far more reason to feel aggrieved.
"The reason we won't pay any more is because so many of our youngsters have been ghosted away on the cheap by Arsene Wenger - after years of being developed and trained by us at great expense."
source: Thesun.co.uk
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