Romano reveals 22-year-old Barcelona outcast is closing in on AS Monaco move | OneFootball

With just one La Liga match remaining, FC Barcelona’s 2024/25 campaign is all but complete. The upcoming fixture against Athletic Bilbao carries no competitive weight, as the Catalan side have already secured the league title and their opponents have confirmed a Champions League spot.

Meanwhile, Deco & co. have already started working on transfer proceedings and it looks like currently, the focus is on outgoing and contract renewals. Romano revealed yesterday that Barcelona had finalized an exit for Alex Valle to Como.

Ansu Fati on his way out

It looks like the club is looking to get other exits sorted as well before they venture into potential new signings. One player who has looked like he had one foot outside the door for quite some time now is Ansu Fati, the former blue-eyed boy of La Masia.

Fati has cut a sorry figure at Barcelona. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Now, as per Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, who is generally a very reliable source when it comes to transfers, AS Monaco are closing in on signing the 22-year-old Barcelona outcast on a loan deal with an option to buy at the end of the season.

The journalist has also mentioned that Barcelona will retain a sell-on clause on the player but there has been no mention of a buy-back in the deal. If that is indeed the case, it means the Catalan club are willing to move on the 22-year-old, once and for all.

Fati has struggled for prominence under Hansi Flick so far this season, hardly getting any minutes. Even in the limited opportunities that has been afforded to him, the Spaniard has struggled to showcase any kind of quality that could convince the German manager.

A fire-cracker that fizzled out

The youngster was left out of matchday squads on multiple occasions even when he wasn’t injured. Once tipped to be the next big thing at Barcelona and the heir to Lionel Messi’s throne, it looks like Fati’s career has ventured into an anonymous land.

A fresh start at AS Monaco? (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

One good thing for Fati is that he has age on his side. AS Monaco is a very good club for him to continue his career and if he gets regular game time, the talent could start to show itself again. Barcelona fans still adore the 22-year-old and would love nothing more than to see him come good.

A move to AS Monaco could offer the clean slate he desperately needs. With regular minutes and a supportive environment, Fati still has time to rediscover the spark that once made him one of Europe’s most exciting prospects. While his Barcelona chapter may be ending, a fresh start in Ligue 1 could be the beginning of something special.