It's official: Barça gets rid of Ansu Fati
The striker finally unblocks his exit from Monaco and generates eight million in fair play.
BarcelonaIn the summer of 2021, Ansu Fati Vieira inherited the number 10 from Lionel Messi naturally. Now he has no choice but to resign himself to leaving and try his luck in another league, the French one. Specifically, at Monaco, a team that likes to play attacking but with the constraint of competing against defenders and physical players. A characteristic that, a priori, isn't the most suitable for his style of play, especially given the performance he can offer. However, he's willing to take advantage of the last bullet. And Barça, even if it's just out of nostalgia, is also giving one last chance to a striker who will turn 23 the day before All Saints' Day. The deal is official as of Tuesday, July 1st at noon.
Ansu's contract expires in 2027, but Barça has made a move and, before fully finalizing his loan deal with Monaco, has decided to renew the player in exchange for spreading out his generous salary over the coming years. At the time, and due to the footballer's emergence, Ansu became one of the highest-paid players, with gross salaries exceeding 15 million euros per year. With the renewal, Ansu is guaranteed to earn his full salary, but over more years. This way, Barça will pay a lower percentage of his salary during his loan to Monaco and will give the famous player a boost. fair play financial. In addition, the club has agreed to a put option of approximately eleven million euros and a subsequent buyback valued at 28 million.
Barça-Ansu-Monaco negotiations began a long time ago, but had stalled in recent weeks because the two clubs couldn't agree on the split of his salary. Ansu could only afford to pay 40%. In the end, it will be thanks to the player's contract renewal until 2028. Sources close to the negotiations tell ARA that this operation will generate around eight million euros in the calculations. fair play Financial. A nice pinch, but not enough to register Joan Garcia and Nico Williams even if the club returns to the 1:1 rule.
Lamine Yamal salivates to wear the number 10
With Ansu at Monaco, the number 10 is free. Last summer, Barça already offered this number to Lamine Yamal. But the winger from Rocafonda, a friend of Ansu, declined the offer and kept the number 19, citing respect for his teammate. This time, there will be no barriers. The decision isn't final, but Barça is saying he'll take the number that in so many places around the world designates the team's best player. A good marketing move.
Lamine Yamal signed his contract extension with Barça on May 27. He committed to the club until 2031 in exchange for becoming, despite being a minor, the second-highest-paid player in the squad. Under normal circumstances, a huge celebration party would have been organized. A huge media spectacle. But the club decided to wait. There were no photos of the signing, which took place in President Joan Laporta's office, citing the absence of some of the player's family. In reality, the club was better off waiting. The big event will be in a couple of weeks, when the players return from vacation. On that day, Lamine Yamal will be 18. Not only will there be photos of the renewal, but the player will also be unveiled in the new jersey and with what will be his new number: 10.
If it hadn't been done until now, it's because the number 10 was occupied by another player, Ansu Fati. Another promising youngster who went from glory to hell due to a poorly treated injury and multiple setbacks. This was during the pandemic. Today, the winger is medically recovered, but he has never returned to his full form despite being the beneficiary of a multi-million-dollar contract. What was then supposed to be Messi's natural replacement ended up going on loan to Brighton in England, where he couldn't shine due to another setback. And this past season, he has been at Barça as a luxury substitute for a team that has won three titles and came within three minutes of the Champions League final. He has only played in 11 of the 60 matches. Hansi Flick has given him only three starts, and he finished the season with a total of 298 minutes and no goals.