Stevie Nicol says Ansu Fati ‘doesn’t get into Tottenham’s XI’ as the London club battles Brighton and Hove Albion for the Barcelona star’s signature.
The Liverpool legend says if Ansu Fati moves to the Premier League and to Tottenham, then he wouldn’t play ahead of Son Heung-min, James Maddison or Dejan Kulusevski, as he told ESPN.
Well, whilst Spurs are still doing everything they can to sign the 20-year-old Barcelona star, it seems as though they might now have to give up – Arsenal’s David Raya reacted.
Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton have also been pushing for Fati’s signature and it seems as though they have won that race and will bring him to the Amex Stadium on a season-long loan deal.
If that’s the case, then it’s a massive coup for the Europa League side because, whilst Fati has stagnated of late, he is a tremendous talent who can still go to the very top.
Either way, Nicol still wasn’t seemingly having the player, even though Spurs fans were keen for the Spanish star to be added to Ange Postecoglou’s attack-minded system.
“He doesn’t get into the Spurs XI, either,” said Nicol. “Are you taking Son Heung-min out?
“He is not getting ahead of Maddison, absolutely no chance. You are asking a guy to play out of position in a league that is way quicker than what he is used to. You are asking somebody to do something they aren’t comfortable with.
“And everyone is going to expect Ansu Fati to be the Ansu Fati of when he was 16 and 17, so the kid is under pressure straight away, regardless of whether it’s Brighton or Spurs.”
Big move for Fati
This is a big, bold and brave move from the highly-rated forward and one that will test his resolve to the highest order.
The all-action nature of the Premier League, its power and strength is going to either make or break Fati.
In truth, if he comes out of this with flying colours, then it would probably see him return back to Barcelona’s XI next season.
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