Summer at FC Barcelona is full of moves and changes, but few imagined that Ansu Fati's situation would take such an unexpected turn. After the departures of Álex Valle and Clément Lenglet, the next chapter seems to be the possible move of the young star to AS Monaco. However, negotiations aren't proving to be as straightforward as was desired.
Transfer or loan? The big question of the market
One of the key points shaping Ansu Fati's future is the formula for his departure. Will it be a direct transfer or a loan with a purchase option? Barcelona prefers to close the deal quickly, before the end of June, for tax reasons that are pushing the operation. But here's where the first complication arises.
If Monaco keeps Ansu only on loan, there's still no agreement on the price of the purchase option. The figure being discussed is 12 million euros, a sum that could also include a percentage in a future sale. This back-and-forth is leaving the door open to much speculation, since Monaco doesn't seem to want to close an immediate transfer.
A rejected offer and the salary problem
According to sources such as MARCA, Monaco has already put an offer on the table. But Barcelona rejected it, considering it insufficient.
The problem isn't just the money, but also Ansu Fati's salary. The forward earns about €14 million gross, a figure the Monegasque club isn't willing to take on in full. The first proposal was a loan with Barça paying part of the wages, but the club has already made it clear that it won't accept this.
This adds complexity to the operation. Barça wants to reduce its wage bill and not carry the salaries of loaned players, while Monaco is looking for a deal that won't mean excessive spending for them.
What will happen with Ansu Fati?
At this moment, the future of the homegrown Barça player is hanging in the air. Jorge Mendes, the famous agent handling this operation, is working to find a formula that satisfies all parties.
Barcelona has already been clear: Ansu Fati isn't in its plans and it needs to finalize his departure. Monaco still hasn't presented a proposal that's fully convincing, and the player is still waiting for a decision.
The truth is that this unexpected turn has complicated the operation, when everything seemed on track. Will we see Ansu Fati succeed at another club? Or will there be more surprises in the coming weeks?