Barcelona starlet Ansu Fati ‘turned down moves to Manchester United, Liverpool and PSG’

Manchester United, Liverpool and PSG ‘were rejected by Barcelona star Ansu Fati before he signed his new six-year deal – despite them offering to DOUBLE his wages’

  • Ansu Fati has agreed a new contract at Barcelona that will keep at club until 2027
  • Barcelona have inserted a release clause worth €1billion (£846m)
  • Spanish reports claim Barca’s European rivals were willing to double his wages 
  • Fati though admitted he only ever wanted to continue dream of playing for Barca


Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati reportedly turned down Manchester United, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain to commit his future to the Nou Camp.

Fati signed a new deal with Barca on Thursday, which will keep him at the club until 2027 with a hefty release clause added worth €1billion (£846m) equal to that of fellow academy graduate Pedri, who also signed a new deal this week.

The forward, who will turn 19 at the end of the month, admitted he had turned down offers from abroad to continue his dream of playing for Barcelona.

Ansu Fati holds his No 10 as Barcelona hold a press conference announcing his new contract

Fati came on at half-time in Barcelona's 1-0 win over Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday night

Fati came on at half-time in Barcelona’s 1-0 win over Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday night

According to Diario Sport, the likes of PSG, United and Liverpool all failed to tempt him away from the Nou Camp despite willing to pay double the wages of what Barcelona were offering.

With Barca’s debt standing at over £1bn, there are likely to be more high-profile departures and the club cannot afford to splash out on new signings or even commit huge sums to wages.

Fati, however, insists he was only ever interested in signing for the club he joined as 10-year-old from Sevilla in 2012, despite Manchester City having also reportedly shown interest.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appeared to miss out on his side signing Fati

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp also saw his side miss out

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (left) and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp appeared to miss out on their respective clubs landing Fati

PSG also appeared to miss out on Fati having also earlier in the summer convinced Barca legend Lionel Messi (above) to move to Paris on a free transfer

PSG also appeared to miss out on Fati having also earlier in the summer convinced Barca legend Lionel Messi (above) to move to Paris on a free transfer

‘Yes, I’ve had offers from abroad,’ he admitted. ‘But my dream was to be here.

‘From the first day I told [agent] Jorge Mendes that my first option was always to stay at Barca. He understood it perfectly and I am very happy that the club has trusted me’.

Fati has inherited the No 10 shirt previously worn by club legend Lionel Messi but insists he will feel no burden wearing the historical jersey.

‘It’s true that the No 10 jersey has been worn by Leo [Messi] and many players but I’m calm,’ said Fati of his new number. ‘I know what I can bring to this team.

Ansu Fati smiles alongside his agent Jorge Mendes and father Bori at the press conference

Ansu Fati smiles alongside his agent Jorge Mendes and father Bori at the press conference

‘For me it’s not a pressure. No one is going to be like Leo, no one is going to be like [former captains Carles] Puyol or Xavi [Hernandez]. No one is going to equal what Leo has done. I’m going to follow my own journey. I still haven’t done anything. I hope I can have a career like they have had.

‘Any player could have worn the No 10. I’m grateful that the captains offered me the number and luckily, I got it. It’s an extra motivation for me. I don’t look at the number but focus on what I can do on the pitch to help the team.’

Fati has scored 15 times in 48 matches already for Barca and the club have pinned their hopes on him and fellow youngsters Pedri and Gavi after they were forced to offload Messi to stay within LaLiga’s new salary cap rules.

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