Ansu Fati, who joined Barcelona’s famed academy La Masia aged 10, was compared to Lionel Messi when he kicked off his club career as a teenage sensation. Yet a spate of injuries have prevented him from hitting the heights expected.
Juventus are constantly monitoring players to add to their extensive summer transfer wishlist, which primarily focuses on defenders, with Fati their latest big name rumour.
Fati, who can be utilised as an attacking midfielder, a left winger or as a out-and-out forward, could be just the type of player to revitalize Juve’s attack.
The 22-year-old is heavily out-of-favour under Barcelona boss Hans Flick, having only played four league matches for the La Liga leaders and yet to find the back of the net.
A lack of goals this term, despite the striking talents of Samuel Mbangula, Dusan Vlahovic and Kenan Yildiz, is something that Thiago Motta couldn’t fathom out. interim head coach Igor Tudor is trying to resolve this dilemma.
Fati’s goalscoring record makes for dismal reading. He managed two Premier League goals in 19 matches during a disappointing season-long loan to Brighton & Hove Albion last term.
A gamble on an expensive acquisition
He earns €14 million (US$15.9m) a season, which offers Barcelona little value with just 191 minutes from nine games in all competitions this term and he has yet to score.
Fati could be an expensive deal for Juventus, who would prefer a loan agreement with an option to buy rather than splash the cash.
As he is clearly not in Flick’s long-term plans, and Barcelona would like to cut their wage bill, the exit door is wide open for Ansu.
Fati was a regular for Barcelona when they scooped their first league title for four years, making 36 La Liga appearances during the 2022/23 campaign. He could add more silverware this season, as the club sit above Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.
A dozen European destinations
As well as Juventus, there are a plethora of top European clubs that are long-term admirers of Fati. His price tag of €20m (US$22.7m) is a quarter of his value in 2020.
Portuguese giants Benfica and Dutch titans Ajax both made inquiries during the January transfer window, and are likely to reignite their interest during the summer.
A return to the Premier League could be explored with the under-performing duo of Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United in desperate need of sharpening their attack.
The two cash-rich Istanbul teams, Besiktas and Fenerbahce, could be an attractive proposition for Fati to tackle the Turkish Supa Lig.
A loan to La Liga sides Girona, Real Betis, Real Sociedad, Sevilla and Valencia are viable. Sevilla could be a good fit as Fati grew up in Andalusia and knows head coach Garcia Pimienta from his Barcelona academy days.
Having experienced injury problems for years, and often not even in Flick’s first-team squad, a move to Serie A would arguably offer Fati a less physically demanding environment. He is aiming to find a club where he can kick-start both his club and international career, having only played 10 times for Spain.
Yet Juve have suffered endless injuries this season, and are looking at bringing former fitness coach Antonio Pintus back to the club next term.