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The 22-year-old forward was offered a transfer fee of €10 million plus €5m in add-ons by Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab. But, the bid was not enough to convince him to move away from Barcelona.
Ansu Fati. (X)
Ansu Fati reportedly turned down a staggering offer from Saudi Arabia just before the winter transfer window closed on Monday, February 3. Barcelona were keen to release Fati in a bid to generate funds for new signings. The Spanish international, however, appears to be in no mood to part ways with his boyhood club. A product of the La Masia academy, Fati had an opportunity to shift his base to the Middle East on the deadline day.
The 22-year-old forward was offered a transfer fee of €10 million plus €5m in add-ons by Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab. But, the bid was not enough to convince him to move away from Barcelona, as reported by Diario Sport.
The rejection means Fati will need to stay at the Catalan club for the remainder of the season. It will be interesting to see how much game time he gets under Hansi Flick. Amid speculations over his departure, the Barcelona boss assured that Fati would spend at least one more season at the club.
“I’ve spoken to him and he wants to stay. Everyone wants to play, he’s performing well in training so we’ll see if he can participate,” Flick said after Barcleona’s dominant 7-0 win over Valencia in La Liga.
Fati has struggled to find a place in the matchday squad this season. Flick honestly clarified that the youngster was not part of his plans. He, however, wanted the player to make the final decision about his future at Barcelona.
“It’s very important to be honest with the players. I’ve been honest with Ansu. We talked about various options and now it’s his decision. If he wants to stay, that’s fine, he’s a La Masia player,” Flick explained at a press conference last month.
“This is professional football and performances count. My job is to help him improve and that’s what we want to do with all the players. Ansu is very professional and always focused,” he added.
Fati has made only eight appearances across all competitions this season. He has started in just one match but failed to produce anything significant. He has registered 29 goals and nine assists for the Barcelona senior team since his debut in 2019.