Manchester United were reportedly interested in signing Ansu Fati from Barcelona in 2020. They even made a bid worth €100 million but it wasn’t enough to prise him away from the Catalan side.
The Red Devils, who were under the management of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the time, were interested in building a young side. They signed the likes of Amad Diallo and Facundo Pellistri around that time and also made a failed attempt for the likes of Jude Bellingham.
As per 90min, Manchester United also made an attempt to sign Ansu Fati in 2020. They submitted a €100 million bid but it was lower than his release clause. His release clause was worth €170 million in 2019 and then it was raised to €400 million after he signed a new contract in 2020. His current contract, which expires in 2027, has a release clause worth €1 billion.
Hence, Manchester United were left disappointed as Ansu Fati remained at Barcelona. Incidentally, they have faced the Spaniard four times – twice with Barcelona and twice with Brighton. United eliminated Barca in the UEFA Europa League playoffs in the 2022-23 season while they won one and lost one game against Brighton in the Premier League last season.
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Ansu Fati has failed to live up to expectations at Barcelona
With Premier League giants Manchester United reportedly willing to spend €100 million on him, one can gauge the talent Ansu Fati possessed in his younger days. Having come through Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, he became the then-youngest player to make his senior debut for them at 16 years and 298 days old in 2019.
Fati registered five goals and four assists in just 10 senior games in the 2019-20 season. He was even given the iconic No. 10 shirt after Lionel Messi left the club in 2021 and joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
However, it has mostly been downhill from there for Fati. He’s had to face numerous major and minor injury issues, which have also affected his form. He’s made 113 appearances for the Blaugrana, scoring 29 goals and providing 10 assists.
Fati spent the last season on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion, contributing four goals and one assist in 27 games. He’s returned to Barcelona this summer but has played just two minutes so far this season. When asked about Fati after their 1-0 win over Getafe, manager Hansi Flick said:
“Today’s match was tough and I decided to have others rotate the team. But he’s fit to play.”
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