Super-agent Jorge Mendes has all-but ruled out a move to Wolves, Arsenal or Aston Villa for Ansu Fati with his Premier League-linked hoping to fight for his place at La Liga champions FC Barcelona.
There was an unmistakeable hint of irritation in Mendes’ voice as he dispelled the latest bout of rumours surrounding the Spain international’s future, via Diario AS.
And who can blame him?
Ansu Fati’s camp have spent the best part of three months distancing themselves from rumours regarding a departure from the Camp Nou; Sport spelling things out rather brutally today when writing that Barcelona’s number ten ‘does not want to play for Wolves’.
At this stage, how much clearer can the message be?
“Ansu wants to stay. He wants to stay,” Mendes explains, reiterating his point for maximum clarity. “I am convinced that he is one of the best youngsters in the world, and that he will win a Ballon d’Or.”
Ansu Fati ‘wants to stay’ at Barcelona
Fati enjoyed an impressive end to an otherwise-difficult 2022/23 campaign. He scored three times in his final two La Liga matches as Barcelona secured their first domestic title since 2019.
Football Transfers reported recently that ambitious Aston Villa had held talks with Mendes regarding a deal for Fati; Unai Emery set to be joined at Villa Park by another with a detailed knowledge of Spanish football in Sevilla director Monchi.
Arsenal, Newcastle and Manchester United are also in the conversation.
But while Barcelona are facing up to another summer of financial uncertainty, academy graduate Fati – the man handpicked to inherit Lionel Messi’s number ten shirt – is not a player they will rush to cash in on, even if their reported £60 million valuation is met.
“Ansu Fati is a player we want at the club,” president Joan Laporta explains. “And he wants to stay at Barca, too.
“Now he is coming on more. He is a man we count on. It is the coaching staff who will have to decide what happens with Ansu next season. He is a Barca player,” Laporta adds, via TV3.
“We love him. He is a player of high quality and integrated (into our squad). I know he wants to succeed at Barca.
“We’ll see how it goes.”
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