FC Barcelona respond to Manchester United upgraded offer for 17year old winger, Ansu Fati
Barcelona have rejected Manchester United’s £135M offer to sign Ansu Fati according to new sports reports. Rumours emerged earlier this month that Jorge Mendes had contacted Barca’s hierarchy on behalf of United to enquire about Fati’s availability, tabling an initial offer worth €100m (£90m).
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made signing a new winger one of his top priorities this summer, with Fati viewed as an alternative to Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho, though the Red Devils are not the only European giant keeping tabs on the starlet.
According to The Times, that second offer added an additional €50m (£45m) in performance-related addons, taking the total value to £135m – though it has again been rejected by Barcelona.
That was rejected, though it did not deter United from preparing a second, improved offer to try and convince the Catalan club to part ways with their talented teenager.
Barca told the intermediary working on behalf of United that Fati can only leave if his €170m (£153m) release clause is triggered, a fee that would need to be stumped up in full without any clauses. Despite having a second bid rejected, United have not given up hope of signing Fati and believe Barca’s stance could change in the coming weeks and months if they fail to offload other senior players.
The Spanish champions are dealing with the financial implications of the coronavirus crisis – even asking the players to take a second pay cut, which they declined – and need to sell before they can buy.
Although the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Ivan Rakitic and Samuel Umtiti are available, Barca have found few suitors and that could eventually lead to them selling a more in-demand player, such as Fati.
Barca are adamant Fati will not be leaving, with club director Xavier Vilajoana saying: ‘For us, there’s no story with Ansu, we have never spoken about selling him. We won’t use players from the academy to make cash.
‘In principle, we have no intention of selling the players we believe will make the first team.’
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