Barcelona forward agrees to four-year contract with Ligue 1 club to secure exit

Barcelona forward agrees to four-year contract with Ligue 1 club to secure exit

class="wp-block-paragraph">Barcelona have spent the summer transfer window so far focusing on potential transfer targets while also looking to sell players who are no longer part of Flick’s plans.

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class="wp-block-paragraph">One of the first sales Barça concentrated on this summer was that of Ansu Fati. The La Masia graduate spent last season on loan at AS Monaco.

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class="wp-block-paragraph">The French club wanted to keep him on a permanent basis, and it does look like the 23-year-old’s career at Barça is coming to a close.

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class="wp-block-paragraph">According to SPORT, Ansu has now agreed a four-year contract with Monaco to finalise the move away from Barcelona.

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class="wp-block-paragraph">Monaco will pay around €11 million for the transfer, with the Catalans working to include several protective clauses that could prove important in the future.

Ansu Fati headed to Monaco permanently. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Barcelona refuse to completely close the door

class="wp-block-paragraph">One of the most interesting aspects of the deal is Barcelona’s determination to retain some level of future control.

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class="wp-block-paragraph">The Catalan club are pushing for a buyback clause worth less than €30 million, while also securing a percentage of any future sale.

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class="wp-block-paragraph">These are signs that Barça still expect Fati to come good and do not want to lose complete control of him at this stage.

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class="wp-block-paragraph">This is a very sensible approach and one that many clubs around Europe have adopted in the past. For example, Real Madrid did the same when they sold Nico Paz to Como.

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class="wp-block-paragraph">The club are accepting that Ansu’s immediate future lies elsewhere, but they are also keeping the option of bringing him back, should he become a special player.

A deal that helps Barcelona on multiple fronts

class="wp-block-paragraph">Financially, the operation is important beyond the transfer fee itself. Barcelona are expected to benefit from both the incoming €11 million and the removal of Ansu’s salary from the wage bill.

Barcelona stand to gain from Ansu’s exit. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

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class="wp-block-paragraph">Together, these factors should help the Catalan club compete better in the transfer market as they continue to focus on reinforcements for Hansi Flick.

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class="wp-block-paragraph">Even from a sporting sense, it would be very difficult for Fati to get a look-in among the attacking riches at Flick’s disposal, and he deserves to be at a place where he plays regularly.

A fresh start for a player still loved by many fans

class="wp-block-paragraph">Ansu had other options available but chose Monaco because he believes the sporting project offers the best environment for his development.

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class="wp-block-paragraph">After a difficult spell at Barcelona, he now arrives at a club that has shown strong faith in him from the beginning.

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class="wp-block-paragraph">The Catalan club have also told him that this is not necessarily a goodbye and that their paths could cross in the future.

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class="wp-block-paragraph">Barça are securing an important departure before 30 June, and it remains to be seen how Fati’s career progresses in France.