Arsenal target Ansu Fati has now pulled full a U-turn over his future at FC Barcelona after the winger rejected a ‘very tempting’ offer for a transfer to Mikel Arteta’s club.
That is according to AS, which reports that Fati has now decided to leave Barcelona ahead of September’s deadline. While it was Sport which recently claimed the 21-year-old had turned away serious interest from Arsenal. He had no desire to accept the Gunners’ lucrative terms.
Barcelona and Fati were in agreement that he would remain at Camp Nou after baulking at a transfer to Arsenal. His agent, Jorge Mendes, has fielded multiple enquiries from teams keen to acquire the nine-cap international. But Fati had absolutely no intentions to leave the club.
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Ansu Fati has rejected a transfer to Arsenal this summer
Being a Cule great remained Fati’s undisputed objective and he believed this season was the term to achieve his dreams. So, he also scoffed at Mendes’ suggestion of joining Wolves in a swap deal for Ruben Neves plus €30m (£25.5m). Neves moved to Al-Hilal for £47m, instead.
But since responding to Arsenal’s offer, AS now reports that Fati has pulled a U-turn and will target a transfer away from Barcelona before the window closes in Europe on September 1. He accepts that coach Xavi Hernandez does not plan on counting on the Blaugrana product.
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Xavi made it clear to Fati several weeks ago that he would not be a key part of his plans. The winger still expressed his intention to fight for a role in pre-season, though. But Xavi naming Fati on the bench for Barcelona’s opening La Liga game at Getafe on Sunday proved enough.
Ansu Fati pulls a U-turn over his future with FC Barcelona
Now, Fati accepts that Xavi – who called the Bissau-born talent ‘extraordinary’ last October – does not trust him. He also accepts that Xavi will never trust him. So, Fati has asked Mendes to secure him a move with several elite European sides among those still displaying interest.
AS journalist Javi Miguel Club has also reported that an unnamed Saudi Arabian team is now targeting Fati, as well. The club is ready to make the winger an ‘irresistible’ offer to switch to the Pro League. But Fati and his father are yet to decide on an offer to go to the Middle East.
Arsenal could also look to revive their interest in Fati’s transfer now the Barcelona product is prepared to switch clubs. He has been in Catalunya since leaving Sevilla’s youth system back in 2012. The attacker has offered the Blaugrana 29 goals and 10 assists in 110 career games.