Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have landed a boost in their transfer pursuits of Barcelona star Ansu Fati. The winger is growing impatient at Camp Nou after Xavi snubbed him again.
That is according to Sport, which reports Xavi has upset Fati after snubbing the 20-year-old against Manchester United on Thursday. The forward had serious hopes of starting in their Europa League knockout round play-off first-leg. But he only played in the last 23 minutes.
Xavi continually overlooking Fati for his line-ups is now worrying the Blaugrana product. He is desperate to be an important player in Catalunya but will have to consider a move away if his situation does not improve. The seven-cap Spain gem’s patience is also wearing thin.
Fati believed Xavi would consider starting him at home to Manchester United as he did not face Villarreal last Sunday. But the Camp Nou boss instead chose to stick with Raphinha on the wing. His preference for continuity irritates Fati as he is fully fit after a meniscus injury.
The injury wrote off the 2021/22 season as the winger missed 10 months of action. He has since featured 32 times so far this term. But his appearances only total 1,149 minutes, the equivalent of fewer than 13 full games. Yet Fati has still offered six goals and three assists.
Fati grows impatient as Arsenal and Tottenham target his transfer from Barcelona
For now, Fati remains calm and will hope to play at Old Trafford next Thursday and in the upcoming Classicos. But if Xavi continues to omit the Barcelona product from his side, Fati will consider leaving. Jorge Mendes has also already told Camp Nou chiefs of his concerns.
Arsenal and Tottenham are also now positioning themselves to secure Fati’s transfer from Barcelona this summer, per La Vanguardia. The Premier League clubs lead rival interest at Bayern Munich. But he has a €1bn (£889m) release clause in his contract through to 2027.
Liverpool and Manchester United may also rival Arsenal and Tottenham for Fati’s transfer from Barcelona. Fabrizio Romano has cited the Reds and Red Devils as potential suitors as they, like the Gunners, are well informed of the Bissau-born talent’s situation at Camp Nou.
Barcelona would want around €100m (£89m) to sell Fati over the summer transfer market, per Ben Jacobs. But any team wishing to sign the Spain wonderkid also faces resistance from Xavi. The Blaugrana boss has voiced his sheer opposition to any move for the winger.
“Ansu Fati is not for sale, as everyone else right now,” Xavi stated earlier in the month, via quotes by Romano. “It’s not time to speak about transfers. I trust Ansu Fati for [the] present and future. He’s our player.”
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