Following a triumphant 2024/25 campaign, FC Barcelona have shifted gears toward squad planning and contract negotiations. Sporting director Deco is working at full throttle to shape the club’s next phase in sync with Hansi Flick’s vision.
Last week, Barcelona renewed the contracts of the manager and Raphinha himself, and Lamine Yamal is in line for a bumper new deal later today. Meanwhile, the club has also finalized a departure for Alex Valle to Como on a permanent basis.
One other player who looks very close to leaving Barcelona is 22-year-old forward Ansu Fati. As per Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, almost all the details for a potential transfer have been ironed out and only the sell-on clause needs to be determined.
Ansu on the way out?
Monaco will be signing Fati from Barcelona on a loan with an option to buy. The idea is that the Catalan club will retain a sell-on clause that would help them earn more money in the future if the 22-year-old was to transfer to a different club.
Fati’s career at Barcelona hasn’t played out as expected. Injuries have played a cruel role in making sure that the Spaniard doesn’t have the kind of impact one envisioned from him all those years ago when he was breaking through as a 16-year-old.
This season, Fati has hardly enjoyed any kind of prominence under Hansi Flick, hardly making any appearances. He has failed to score a single goal or provide a single assist through the course of the campaign.
Age on his side
At 22, Fati is still very young. However, staying at Barcelona without any signs of improvement isn’t going to get him much as a professional footballer. The Spaniard needs to make a decision that would help him resurrect his faltering career.
Age is on his side. Romano has mentioned that Fati has said yes to Monaco after rejecting over 5 clubs in January. There is something about the Ligue 1 side’s project that has caught his eye. For a talent once tipped for greatness, the next chapter might finally offer the clarity and consistency he’s long needed.
