Barcelona open talks with Saudi Arabia for summer move via Jorge Mendes | OneFootball

While last summer the recently arrived Hansi Flick made it clear he was willing to give Ansu Fati another go at Barcelona, and spoke highly of him in preseason, the 22-year-old forward has had less of a look-in than ever before at the club. The La Masia graduate appears set for an exit, it just remains a matter of when.

Fati has two years left on his contract this summer, and it looks like a very real possibility that he could see that. The Blaugrana handed a lucrative contract to Fati, making him one of the highest-paid players at the club, but since, injuries have taken a severe toll on the young forward both physically and mentally.

This season he has featured for just 186 minutes across eight appearances, only one of which was a start. Missing the first month of the season through a foot injury, and a further month through a hamstring issue in November and December, Fati has now been left out of the squad entirely for 11 games this season, despite being fit.

A clear message that he is no longer in the club’s plans. Sport say that much has been clear for several months, and despite links to a move in January, neither Flick nor Barcelona nor agent Jorge Mendes could convince him to leave at the time. However given his salary, and their salary limit struggles, Barcelona are keen to make that happen in the summer, and have already begun efforts to do so.

Their information is that through agent Jorge Mendes, Barcelona have made contact with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in order to try and secure a move for him this summer. However they will still have to covince Fati of a move, something that has so far proved impossible.

Barcelona would also be open to a loan move in the summer, but it would have to ensure much of his salary was taken care of. The likes of Sevilla and Girona have enquired about Fati in the past, but the amount of his salary they could take on is too low to interest the Blaugrana.