Manchester United were ready to pay 100 million euros for Ansu Fati

Manchester United were ready to pay 100 million euros for Ansu Fati

El endiablado pase de Ansu Fati a Messi que lo pudo cambiar todo / | MEDIAPRO

Jorge Mendes asked Barça how much they wanted but Catalan club pointed to release clause

It's been a complicated week for Ansu Fati despite being kept out of everything going on around him. Barcelona stood strong and rejected an offer of 100 million euros for the teenage winger. Manchester United were the main interested party, but various Premier League clubs were following his situation. Despite the economic crisis, the Blaugrana aren't thinking about letting him leave and his camp hope his sporting future is cleared up because they want minutes in the first team next season. 

Ansu's camp has been restless in recent months. His minuted reduced after the signing of Martin Braithwaite. And with Luis Suarez back now and Ousmane Dembele next season, plus the possible signing of Lautaro Martinez, they predicted a complicated future and feel Ansu would be wasted in the B team now. Barça have made it clear they want him, but he wants minutes and the powerful agent, Jorge Mendes, was ready to broker a deal. 

Barça were surprised when Mendes phoned a few weeks back to ask for a price for Ansu. At that moment, they said he was not for sale and pointed out his release clause was 170 million. They were convinced no one would reach that fee and considered the matter closed. 

Mendes returned around 10 days ago. The Portuguese agent has a good relationship with Ansu's camp and made an offer of 100 million euros for the kid. Mendes has spoken with Premier League clubs and there was interest. United were ready to pay that figure, giving up on Jadon Sancho to sign the Barça forward instead. 

The offer was so big that the sporting department were obliged to take it to the board for a final decision. Bartomeu was clear: no. He sees the La Masia product as a key player in the club's future. 

Barça have told Mendes that they will not accept offers and the idea is he is part of the first team now, even though he will take part in the playoffs with Barça B in July. After that, the club will activate a clause to make him a first-team player permanently, which will see his clause release to 400 million euros. The reality, though, is there will be a lot of competition in the first team and betting on Ansu could see Ousmane Dembele left on the market. 

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