Newcastle United target Ansu Fati could lose his Barcelona shirt number to Lionel Messi should he move this summer.
That’s according to 90Min, who report that Barcelona are indeed trying to bring Messi back to the Camp Nou.
Messi’s Paris Saint-Germain deal ends this summer and a stunning Catalunya comeback could be on the cards.
The report claims that Barcelona have even promised Messi the number 10 shirt upon his return.
There’s just one problem there – the number 10 shirt is already held by Barcelona winger Ansu Fati.
Fati inherited the number 10 shirt from Messi in 2021 and was expected to kick on to become Barca’s next great star.
That just hasn’t happened and it looks like Barcelona are ready to take the number 10 shirt off him to give it back to Messi.
Maybe Fati won’t be too upset by that, but it’s another curious development amid claims he could be on the move to Newcastle this summer.
Newcastle United want Ansu Fati
The Magpies appear to be in for another winger this summer and have been linked to the likes of Moussa Diaby and Raphinha.
Fati is another target though, at least according to transfer insider Dean Jones.
Jones told Give Me Sport earlier this month that Newcastle are interested in signing Fati on loan.
That could appeal to Barcelona, who have seen Fati take a step back in his development due to a number of injuries.
A loan to Newcastle may help Fati regain his value and accelerate his development with regular playing time.
Fati may well jump at the move too; if Barcelona are taking his shirt number off him, how much belief do they really have in him?
You could hardly blame Fati for wanting to leave Barcelona and Newcastle may be right there to give him an exit route.
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