The operation that was supposed to return Ansu Fati to the elite of European soccer is on the verge of falling apart. According to SPORT, the agreement between FC Barcelona and AS Monaco for the loan of the young 22-year-old striker is at high risk of collapsing if the conditions imposed by the blaugrana leadership aren't met. Joan Laporta has been clear: Barça isn't willing to lose more money with Ansu Fati.
After an unproductive loan spell at Brighton and a campaign with few minutes at Barça, the homegrown player is looking to regain prominence. Monaco has shown interest in taking him on loan for the 2025/26 season, but negotiations have stalled over a key point: the salary.
Ansu Fati, loan to Monaco in danger
Ansu Fati has a gross salary of €12 million (12 million euros), a figure that Barça considers disproportionate given his recent performance. Joan Laporta has put only two options on the table for the loan to go through: either the player lowers his salary... or Monaco pays 100% of his wages. There are no other options.
From Barcelona they don't want to make the mistake again of taking on part of the salary of players who aren't in the sporting plans. Laporta believes Barça can't keep taking on costs for footballers who aren't performing or are not at the forefront of the project. If Ansu Fati wants to leave, he'll have to collaborate financially, or Monaco will have to make a total financial effort. The Catalan club doesn't plan to pay a single euro more for him outside the squad.
Meanwhile, Monaco views favorably the arrival of a player with talent and experience in European competitions. But they aren't willing, at least for now, to take on the full salary. In the Principality, they trust Ansu Fati can be a game-changing addition, but they believe the current salary doesn't match the performance shown and are looking to negotiate a reduction.
Ansu Fati has to decide: money or minutes
Ansu Fati, meanwhile, is at a crossroads. After years marked by injuries and inconsistency, the forward knows he needs minutes and confidence. Leaving for Monaco would allow him to feel important again, but he doesn't want to give up a contract signed at his best moment. The pressure is now on him.
Barça, with Hansi Flick in charge, doesn't consider him an essential piece of the new project. The priority is to free up wage bill and not mortgage the future with high salaries for players without prominence. The final decision will have to be made in the coming days...