Barcelona set to lose Fati: Why Manchester United target failed prodigy

Manchester United await the arrival of Europa League specialists Sevilla for today’s quarter-final first leg at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils come into the game on the back of convincing home wins against Brentford and Everton and will be looking to build on that momentum into their next match.

Things are looking bright for one of the two candidates for Manchester’s red half as the Glazers look to finally relinquish control of the club.

Following their dominance, United will look to reinforcements in the summer to start Erik ten Hag’s revolution at Old Trafford.

A number of names have been linked with the club in recent months, including Barcelona star Ansu Fati.

The talented youngster burst onto the scene in 2019, becoming the youngest player to appear for the Blaugrana in over 80 years.

By scoring his first international goal on Spain’s debut against Ukraine, he became the youngest goalscorer at the age of 17 years and 311 days, accidentally breaking another record that had stood for 95 years.

Fati will inherit the historic number 10 shirt from Lionel Messi following the Argentine’s departure from the Nou Camp.

He has made 25 La Liga appearances for Barcelona this season, but has only started ten of them.

As Fatty’s father and agent, he recently asked the youngster to leave the Nou Camp in a bombshell attack on the club and management, and it looks like he’ll get his wish sooner than expected.

According to Sport España, Fati’s stay at Barcelona could soon be over, with the 20-year-old set to be sold in the summer for a huge fee.

The report claims that Barca would prefer to retain the services of Ferran Torres and Rafinha and are prepared to lose Fati instead.

It has been a strange experience for the La Masia graduate, who was once touted as the Blaugrana’s next star player, but now finds himself at a crossroads with the club he joined as a 10-year-old.

The tabloids may have dismissed his talent, but his teenage prowess hasn’t waned as much as you’d have it believe.

Although he has accumulated over 1,400 minutes in all competitions, Fati has scored 7 goals and 3 assists for the Blaugrana this season.

He can play in multiple positions and at 20 years old, he still has a high ceiling, and remains a very powerful attacking option who can use his true potential in the right way.

Clumsy by trade, Fatty is reminiscent of United superstar Marcus Rashford, a brilliant dribbler with explosive pace and refined technique in distribution.

He is a perfect fit for the type of player Erik ten Hague needs in attack, often sliding inside, wearing full-backs and playing one-twos in the box.

The Red Devils currently have options on either side of their attack with the likes of Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Anthony, supported by young guns like Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Pellistri.

A case could be made for a loan move to Pelestri, who needs more game time to get his foot in the game at a higher level, and at this point Fati could be further argued to be signed beyond PL readiness as the Uruguayan’s replacement.

The youngster’s stock has fallen significantly over the years, reaching around £31 million in the current market.

If Manchester United can play their cards right and make a big splash in the summer, they could find themselves a gem of a player in a reasonable deal.

There is a distinct possibility that all the talk surrounding the Spanish international will be agent-driven nonsense, with United’s reputation being used as a bargaining chip to push an agenda.

Either way, a fun summer awaits Ansu Fati.