Ansumane Fati is on the verge of leaving Barcelona, and this will be a bitter exit for all Barca fans. The wonder boy, who was handed over the iconic No. 10 jersey after Leo Messi, is now getting pushed out of the club due to injuries, mismanagement, and financial woes. Did Barca fail him, or was it just inevitable? All the nitty-gritty is inside this piece.
Fati Did Not Get Any Chance to Fight This Season
Ansu Fati has been cursed with injuries during his brief Barcelona run. The 22-year-old once again started this season with injuries. The first was on July 24, which made him miss five games, and the other was in November, which got him sidelined for another six games. Thus, Hansi Flick did not even use him as a bench player for the better part of this season’s first half.
And even after he recovered, the forward has only made 11 appearances (298 minutes) this season. He has no goals, no assists, and zero confidence. Fati has struggled to impact games, which has been a big blow to him. His teammates have done their best to support him, but maybe even luck has turned its face away from Fati in the Catalan colors.
Monaco Move: Is it a Smart Escape or Another La Masia Talent Wasted?
The interested party is not in Spain or England, but in France. AS Monaco has shown interest in getting Fati, and the French club offers him a fresh start. Fati can play Champions League football too, and it’s far better playing there than rotting on the Barcelona bench. Fati is just 22 and can still play loads of football. Monaco’s manager, Adi Hutter, knows that if he manages to unleash the pre-injury Fati, he can have a big chance of winning Ligue 1.
It’s important to consider that Ansu Fati earns 13.95m Euros per season, and only Lewandowski and de Jong earn more than him. The Catalans have received no input from Fati’s side this season and are suffering substantial financial stress in their pocket. Therefore, this exit will be a smart escape for Deco and co.
The Downfall of Ansu Fati: Who to Blame?
Hansi Flick tried to trust Fati but seemed reluctant. This was due to the board’s reckless contract extensions and the player’s injury curse history. Fati’s first significant injury was his meniscus tear four years ago. It was the real injury that slowed him down, as the youngster was sidelined for a whopping 64 games for club and country.
But Barca also did not handle him correctly. They rushed him after Leo Messi left and then gave him the number 10 jersey’s responsibility. Fati always had the talent, but never the mental strength to sustain this pressure. Thus, he crumbled under the enormous weight of duties. Those were real dark times as the 8-2 tragedy was fresh, Messi had just left, the team’s performance was way below par, and the promising Fati had become a financial scapegoat.
Final Say: The Hard Truth
The harsh reality of Fati’s transfer to Monaco is that Barca simply cannot afford his wages. His market value has plummeted to a shocking 5m euros according to transfermarkt. He’ll potentially move on a loan, but with a buy-back clause.
But it’s also ironic. That’s because they trusted Ferran Torres and Raphinha, yet Ansu Fati, a La Masia product, gets discarded first? I find it sad, because once I saw glimpses of him being Barca’s next big thing.