COMMENT: Will Lionel Messi shape Manchester United‘s transfer policy this summer? Well, if Ed Woodward is to prise Ansu Fati away from Barcelona, you better believe it…
Third time lucky. That’s what Woodward, United’s vice-chairman exec, and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be banking on when they come forward with their next offer for Barca’s 17 year-old superkid.
€100m. That was United’s first bid tabled for Fati. A bid confirmed by Barca’s president Josep Maria Bartomeu in a video conference call to fellow board members last month. He didn’t name the club, but it was leaked to local press that indeed Bartomeu had revealed he’d fielded an offer of €100m for Fati and “immediately turned it down”.
United would later be fingered in the press as the club in question. Particularly as we knew of their €150m January offer for Joao Felix. News of that bid tabled to Atletico Madrid has been doing the rounds again this past week. No matter his public utterances, Woodward is prepared to spend big on the right young talent this summer.
Now we have confirmation of a second United offer for Fati. This time €150m. Again, it was turned down. Though this time, Bartomeu wasn’t so quick to do so. And this is where the first bit of Messi’s influence rears it’s head.
Barca need money. Money to satisfy their captain. Locked in talks with Inter Milan for months over a deal for Lautaro Martinez, Bartomeu and co can’t afford to let Messi down. Particularly after assurances of Neymar’s return last summer failed to be met.
But Barca are struggling to reach terms with Inter. If they can’t make it a straight cash deal, the Nerazzurri are insisting on an offer equivalent to Lautaro’s €111m buyout clause. A clause which appeared affordable six months ago, but now a bar Barca are struggling to reach. The best they’ve managed so far is €60m down and a choice of players. But Inter are unimpressed. And with Lautaro unwilling to force things along at his end, Barca are in a bind.
So United’s money will come in handy. And they need it. Proof of that was the debate around dropping Fati back to the B team for Spanish football’s restart. With playoffs to commence for Segunda B, management did seriously consider registering Fati for the remainder of the season with Barca B to help with the promotion campaign. Winning a return to the Segunda would mean an extra €10m into the club’s coffers. Yeah, Barca do need the money.
For Fati. For his father. At this stage in his career, money is a secondary motivation. Both Ansu and Dad Bori are happy with how Barca are taking care of him – off the pitch. A deal was signed in December, through to 2021, with Fati seeing his wages jump 100 per cent. A deal negotiated by Messi’s brother, Rodrigo, who is now Fati’s prime agent.
It’s Fati’s development which is now the concern. As it always has been for Bori. United have been in touch with the player’s camp. An offer to triple his current salary is on the table. A proposal made via Woodward’s trusted intermediary Jorge Mendes. And included were assurances of a regular game under Solskjaer. Assurances backed up by the Norwegian’s support for United’s youth during his time in charge.
And in front of that backdrop, Barca haven’t done themselves any favours these past weeks when it comes to the Fati household.
If it was up to Ansu, his career would continue to progress in the Blaugrana colours. But news of the Barca B debate has reached them – and left both father and son unimpressed. And that frustration was exacerbated on Friday, with Fati not considered for Barca’s 0-0 draw at Sevilla. This despite him producing an outstanding goalscoring performance in the midweek defeat of Leganes. Five goals and an assist is Fati’s record in his first full season as a first teamer, yet there’s now a belief that even Martin Braithwaite is ahead of the teen in coach Quique Setien’s plans. A situation which is only going to become worse with Lautaro’s expected arrival.
So momentum is with United. And they’re worried in Barcelona. Press talk says there’s fear that United will simply go €20m more. Meet Fati’s €170m buyout clause. And ferry him away.
On the La Masia training fields, it’s also been noted amongst the coaching staff. One long time source told this column last week they were well across the story, though couldn’t add anything regarding the bid itself. But it will be a “shame” if another La Masia product is lost this summer, particularly to United. It’s not lost on academy staff that Marc Jurado, a young left-back, is already packing his bags for Carrington. To lose a gem like Fati, to the same club, will be taken personally by those who’ve worked with both prospects over the years.
But as we say, momentum is with United’s side of the table. Indeed, there’s now a belief for those representing United that Barca are willing to negotiate. It won’t have to be the €170m, especially if the bonus-laden offer includes a hefty up front payment.
Barca would have their money. Leo would be joined by his Argentina teammate. And Rodrigo a second bumper contract commission in only six months.
But if Fati does pull on a United shirt next season, spare a thought for those staff at La Masia. They’d be forgiven for wondering just who are they developing this talent for…
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