Ansu Fati is now likely to stay at La Liga leaders Barcelona amid interest from Premier League trio Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle United ahead of the summer transfer window.
That is according to the player’s father anyway.
It was Fati Sr who raised doubts surrounding the Spain international’s Camp Nou future a couple of months ago, admitting that Barca’s ‘number ten’ was not exactly thrilled about his lack of regular starts under Xavi Hernandez.
Slowly but surely, a man who inherited Lionel Messi’s shirt in Catalonia is forcing his way back into the starting XI, putting those injury issues behind him while building up full fitness once again. Fati was excellent, at times, during Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Osasuna; a result which took Barca one giant stride closer to La Liga glory.
And the message, from the Fati camp, appears to have changed.
“If Ansu stays at Barca? Yes, yes, very sure,” Bari Fati now tells Mundo Deportivo. “We are very happy.”
Will Ansu Fati leave Barcelona?
According to Give Me Sport’s Dean Jones, Newcastle were considering a potential loan deal for a man who shattered records at a remarkable rate when exploding onto the Barcelona scene as a baby-faced 16-year-old.
Fabrizio Romano believes that Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are testing the waters too; The Gunners reportedly holding initial talks with Fati’s representatives.
But while Barca will once again find themselves under pressure to raise funds via player sales this summer, Spanish football expert Terry Gibson believes the Blaugrana should not forget just how brilliant Fati looked before those injuries started to hamper his development.
“Do Barcelona run the risk of selling him?,” Gibson muses on El Tel and Jon’s La Liga Weekly podcast. “It could come back to bite them. His form has been exceptional in the past, the same level as Pedri, Gavi and Balde. Fati was on that level.
“If they can, they should avoid selling him and have a plan for him to become a superstar at Barcelona. I would hope that Barcelona keep him. But their financial situation dictates what they have to do.”
Fati is reportedly valued at around £60 million.
Super-agent Jorge Mendes broke his silence on the future of the La Masia graduate in midweek too.
“I come to talk to the family,” Mendes said after touching down in Spain. “Ansu is a great player. He has shown all his value when he was at Barcelona before the injury and he is a phenomenon. We are going to see what will happen.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
