An FC Barcelona star once talked up as the future of the club has agreed to leave it and join AS Monaco according to COPE reporter Helena Condis, who cited anonymous sources.
Ansu Fati burst onto the elite stage in 2019 as a record-smashing teenager that was the Lamine Yamal of his era.
He was given Lionel Messi’s number 10 shirt in 2021 after the Argentine left for Paris Saint-Germain and Fati renewed his contract, such were the expectations pinned on the La Masia graduate.
Yet a string of injuries blocked his path to regular form and minutes in the years that followed, on either side of a loan to Brighton while under the command of Xavi Hernandez and Hansi Flick.
With a domestic treble-winning season for Flick in his maiden term now wrapped up, Fati has been linked with an exit which is now coming to fruition according to Condis.
“There is an agreement in principle between Ansu and Monaco,” she tweeted. "Loan with an option to buy at the end of the season. Adi Hütter: the great supporter.
“Ansu is more seduced by Monaco’s offer than Chelsea’s, after his experience in the Premier League. Ansu is in NYC [but he will]
close [the deal] today or tomorrow,” Condis added.
Ansu’s exit should crown a new FC Barcelona number 10
Though it could just be a temporary move, Fati’s expected exit to AS Monaco could crown a new number 10.
That should be his friend and fellow La Masia graduate Lamine Yamal, who on Tuesday is tipped to sign a new contract extension until June 30, 2031.
The Golden Boy tipped to win the Ballon d’Or currently dons the number 30, but has long been talked up as a successor to Messi.
Lamine has always talked down comparisons between the two, but these weren’t quelled when a viral photo emerged of a young, shy Messi appearing to bless a baby Lamine as part of a UNICEF calendar made in collaboration with Catalan newspaper SPORT.
Even though there is the possibility of a sale if the reported loan goes ahead, Fati might still have a future at FC Barcelona if he impresses in France.