Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati makes decision on future amid Man Utd transfer link
Barcelona star Ansu Fati appears to have made a decision on his future after Manchester United reportedly made two bids for the forward.
Fati, who is just 17, has impressed in his breakthrough season for Barca, and is being touted as the eventual heir to six-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.
His form this season has attracted interest from top clubs around Europe, including Ole Gunnar Solskjer's United.
Last week, Barcelona-based publication Sport reported that United were willing to pay up to £89m for the forward, but claimed the La Liga giants wouldn't accept anything less than £150m.
The Times then claimed the Red Devils had upped their offer to £136m.
But now another Spanish publication, Mundo Deportivo, reports that Fati has not yet been contacted by United, and has no interest in leaving Barcelona for any club.
The publication says Fati is ready to sign a new long-term deal with Barca, which could have a gargantuan release clause of £362m.
Despite talk of financial strife at Barcelona, club director Xavier Vilajoana insisted the club was not prepared to cash in on the Spain under-21 international.
He said: "For us, there’s no story with Ansu, we have never spoken about selling him. We won’t use players from the academy to make cash.
"In principle, we have no intention of selling the players we believe will make the first team."
Even Messi himself has been wowed by Fati, who can play on either wing or as a centre-forward.
"He’s an amazing player and he’s got what it takes to succeed," the Argentine said.
"But if I look at it through my eyes, I’d like them to bring him on gradually, like they did with me when I started, taking things nice and easy and without putting pressure on him."
Fati became Barcelona's youngest-ever goalscorer when he netted against Osasuna in August and continued to break records when he became the youngest scorer in Champions League history with the winner in a 2-1 victory over Inter Milan in December.
He has made 25 appearances for Barcelona this season, scoring six times.
Fati, who is just 17, has impressed in his breakthrough season for Barca, and is being touted as the eventual heir to six-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.
His form this season has attracted interest from top clubs around Europe, including Ole Gunnar Solskjer's United.
Last week, Barcelona-based publication Sport reported that United were willing to pay up to £89m for the forward, but claimed the La Liga giants wouldn't accept anything less than £150m.
The Times then claimed the Red Devils had upped their offer to £136m.
But now another Spanish publication, Mundo Deportivo, reports that Fati has not yet been contacted by United, and has no interest in leaving Barcelona for any club.
The publication says Fati is ready to sign a new long-term deal with Barca, which could have a gargantuan release clause of £362m.
Despite talk of financial strife at Barcelona, club director Xavier Vilajoana insisted the club was not prepared to cash in on the Spain under-21 international.
He said: "For us, there’s no story with Ansu, we have never spoken about selling him. We won’t use players from the academy to make cash.
"In principle, we have no intention of selling the players we believe will make the first team."
Even Messi himself has been wowed by Fati, who can play on either wing or as a centre-forward.
"He’s an amazing player and he’s got what it takes to succeed," the Argentine said.
"But if I look at it through my eyes, I’d like them to bring him on gradually, like they did with me when I started, taking things nice and easy and without putting pressure on him."
Fati became Barcelona's youngest-ever goalscorer when he netted against Osasuna in August and continued to break records when he became the youngest scorer in Champions League history with the winner in a 2-1 victory over Inter Milan in December.
He has made 25 appearances for Barcelona this season, scoring six times.
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