Eddie Keogh/Reuters

Cesc Fàbregas’ return the the Premier League has been a glorious one: Chelsea is atop the table, and Fabregas leads all players with seven assists in seven games. Against his old club Arsenal last weekend, Fàbregas set up Diego Costa to seal the game with a beautiful 45-yard pass over the top of the Gunners’ defense, allowing Costa to chip the goalkeeper to make it 2-0.

It’s hard to believe that just six months ago, Fàbregas was an outcast at Barcelona — a world-class midfielder forced out of his position, played a false-striker or a winger. Fàbregas was often the scapegoat for Barcelona’s relative struggles, especially as the Blaugrana only managed to win the pre-season Supercopa de España last year.

Fàbregas is a product of Barcelona’s youth academy, but he left at the age of 16 became a star at Arsenal. In 2011, Barcelona offered the London club a princely sum to bring Fàbregas back “home,” and in his first two seasons, Barcelona won the Copa Del Rey and La Liga — but manager Pep Guardiola left in 2012, and although Fàbregas became more of a regular starter under Tito Vilanova, the magic from his Arsenal days had vanished. Rather than an integral part of the team, Fàbregas was merely a bit player (albeit an extremely talented one).

Javier Soriano/AFP

The club season is on an international break week, and before Fàbregas and Spain play Euro 2016 qualifiers against Slovakia and Luxembourg, he opened up on his departure from Barcelona.

Via beIN Sports:

“There were moments that weren’t so great, but I consider myself a strong lad. I’ve never cried or felt bad when a section of the fans has whistled at me…. I had expectations which ended up turning into something else. Life is reality. I didn’t feel cheated or disappointed.”

Adrian Dennis/AFP