According to Albert Masnou of SPORT, Barcelona forward Ansu Fati is not in the plans of manager Xavi Hernandez for the next season. The 20-year-old, however, is reluctant to leave the club in the summer transfer window.
Fati has endured a difficult 2022/23 season even though he has recovered from his injury troubles. Game-time has been hard to come by under Xavi and even when he has played, the Spaniard has not always made the best impression.
Given Barça’s need to reduce their salary mass, Fati is one of several players for whom offers will be heard in the summer, even though the player is not keen on leaving.
And, as per the report, the La Masia graduate’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has assured the Catalan giants that an offer around the €70 million mark will arrive for the youngster from clubs in the Premier League.
Fati is generating interest in England, with clubs like Manchester United getting linked with the Barcelona academy prodigy.
But, whether they, or any other Premier League club for that matter, are indeed prepared to shell out as much as €70 million for the 20-year-old remains unclear. Mendes, however, has assured Barça that they will receive an offer around that figure.
Given that Fati is a homegrown talent, all the proceeds from his sale would be chalked up as net profit in the books, which makes his departure an appealing prospect for Barcelona in their bid to address the Financial Fair Play situation.
In 45 matches this term, the 20-year-old has a return of seven goals and three assists. Most of his appearances have come off the bench and he has not always been convincing enough.
So, even though he is reluctant to leave, the possibility of a departure at the end of the season seems high. Now, what remains to be seen is whether Mendes is able to find a suitor for him who will be ready to shell out the €70 million figure he has assured Barcelona about.
