FC Barcelona has seen two more first-team players depart as the new financial year begins. La Masia product Ansu Fati, once a promising talent, was sold to AS Monaco for $12.5 million (€11 million) on June 30, with Barcelona retaining a 30% sell-on clause. Fati, who struggled with injuries, will now look to revive his career in France. Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford's loan spell concluded, and Barcelona opted not to activate his $35 million buy option. Despite a respectable season with 14 goals and 14 assists, the English winger became surplus to requirements following Anthony Gordon's arrival. Rashford is now set to return to Manchester United. The club is also working to bring back Joao Cancelo, whose loan ended. Barcelona hopes to secure the veteran defender, potentially for free if his contract with Al-Hilal is rescinded, or for a modest fee, recognizing his unique value at that price point.
FC Barcelona has bid farewell to both Marcus Rashford and Joao Cancelo.
Two more players have exited the FC Barcelona first team fold with the start of a new month.
June 30 is the last day of the financial year in Spanish soccer, when many contracts end or clubs are desperate to get sales completed to make their finances look healthier once official statements are released.
On said date in 2026, Barça bid farewell to La Masia product Ansu Fati. The Lamine Yamal of his day, who similarly broke a number of youngest goalscorer and appearance maker records for club and country, struggled with injuries and has been sold to AS Monaco.
The deal is said to be worth $12.5 million (€11 million), while the Catalans retain 30% of any future sale if the 23-year-old starts to truly kick on in France.
On July 1, though, Barça has also said goodbye to other first team stars and won’t receive a penny for them because they were at the club on loan.
Marcus Rashford’s return of 14 goals and 14 assists - which includes netting a thunderous free kick that helped win the league and El Clasico at Real Madrid’s expense - wasn’t too shady.
With Anthony Gordon signed from Newcastle for $80 million, however, he has become surplus to requirements on the left wing where Raphinha also plays.
You still hear reports that Barça could test Manchester United’s resolve by offering to take him on loan for another season.
In the end, however, the Blaugrana weren’t prepared to activate his $35 million buy option. That means he’s heading back to Carrington for a Red Devils preseason camp held by Michael Carrick as things stand.
Joao Cancelo is a different case, and there’s a higher chance he rejoins Hansi Flick’s squad than Rashford.
It’s unclear whether he’s wanted by parent club Al-Hilal, or head coach Simeone Inzaghi.
Barça hopes that the Portuguese currently featuring with Cristiano Ronaldo at the World Cup manages to get his contract rescinded.
That’d mean he arrives in Catalonia permanently for free. Yet what is a more likely scenario is that the Saudis are forced to selling a player that doesn’t want to be there, nor is wanted by his manager, for a few million dollars.
Put simply, FC Barcelona won’t find a veteran with Cancelo’s pedigree anywhere else on the market for that price. In his second loan at the Spotify Camp Nou, the 32-year-old dislodged Alejandro Balde to become Flick’s first choice left back.