Roland Cutinho
Manchester United keeping an eye on Spanish wonderkid Ansu Fati’s uncertain future at Barcelona
According to AS Sport (h/t the Sun), Ansu Fati has apparently decided to leave Barcelona, and his departure is expected to attract attention from Premier League teams.
Fati believes that Barcelona manager Xavi lacks confidence in him, evident from his late substitution in the opening game against Getafe, coming on only in the 79th minute.
Premier League clubs like Man United and Arsenal have been linked with potential interest in signing the Spaniard wonderkid.
The 20-year-old winger, known for his speed and skill, presents exciting potential; however, he is keen on consistent playing time.
His frustration grew when Abde Ezzalzouli and Lamine Yamal were substituted before him in the Getafe match. Despite having four years left on his Barcelona contract, Fati now envisions his future away from the club.
He debuted for Barcelona in 2019 at the age of 16, becoming the youngest goal scorer in the club’s history against Real Betis. In 2020, he endured a nine-month absence due to a left knee meniscus tear.
The young attacker was subsequently given Barcelona’s No. 10 jersey, taking over from Lionel Messi in 2021, but has lost his status as a regular starter.
Overall, he has played in 110 appearances for the Blauragan, scoring 29 goals and providing ten assists.
But the once-strong relationship with the manager, Xavi, appears to have soured, creating an opportunity for the United management to consider taking action.
The English giants could be more than happy to sign such a young, hungry player with a lot of potential.
However, the Red Devils’ are well-stocked with options for the left-wing role currently, including Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Alejandro Garnacho. However, positional changes might occur in the ongoing 2023-24 season.
Sancho could potentially challenge Antony on the right flank, while Rashford might transition into a striker role. Rashford showcased his capabilities with 16 goal contributions while playing as a forward last season.
In this context, Fati could be a valuable addition to strengthen the left-wing position. He displayed consistent performance by registering a goal or assist every 130 minutes for Barcelona in the recent season.
Nevertheless, a major obstacle for Man United could be the price tag. The Old Trafford outfit would need €70 million to persuade Barcelona to sell him.
Considering United’s limited budget and uncertain ownership situation, it appears unlikely that the club would be willing to pay such a substantial amount for Fati, especially given his limited playing time in the previous season.
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Hence, it is highly unlikely that the club will sign such a highly-rated player only to keep him on the bench next season.
