Man Utd on alert, as major stumbling block halts Barcelona contract talks

Ansu Fati Barcelona October 2021

Ansu Fati’s contract talks with Barcelona are understood to be at an impasse with Manchester United undoubtedly watching closely.

Fati’s contract at the Camp Nou expires at the end of the season an extension talks have been far from straight forward.

Fati was in scintillating form on Sunday as he started his first game since November 2020. He scored and won a penalty to inspire Barca to a much-needed 3-1 home win over Valencia.

Barca are keen to tie down Fati, as they did with Pedri last week.

Fati’s agent Jorge Mendes has been in talks with the Catalan giants over a new deal for his client.

But, according to Catalan outlet El Nacional, the length of the contract on offer is where the problem lies.

Mendes has asked for a two-year extension initially due to the club’s financial problems. He then plans to sit down with Barcelona again before 2024 to negotiate a more lucrative deal for his client.

Barca though want sign Fati to a long-term extension with bonuses and an increase in the base salary after each season. The club also also reportedly included a €1bn release clause (£840m), as they did with Pedri’s deal.

Mendes apparently has no intention of signing off on that and the agent has put the talks on hold.

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Manchester United have been linked with Fati previously. According to Marca, in September 2020 Barca received a €150m offer for the player. The Catalan side rebuffed that and made it clear they wanted the talented attacker to stay.

However, Fati’s agent, Mendes is also the agent of Cristiano Ronaldo and the club asked about the young attacker when they got a deal done for Ronaldo in the summer.


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Barca’s extension clause 

Mundo Deportivo report that United enquired about the availability of the winger, having held and interest in the player in the past.

The discussions have been labelled as “something normal” given Fati’s contractual situation.

United though will no doubt be watching intently, as Barca try and get the player tied down.

 

AS have also claimed that Barcelona have signed a unilateral extension clause to extend Fati’s contract until 2024.

It’s a clause that Mendes will likely dispute, as players under 18 years of age cannot sign contracts longer than two years.

Fati was 16 when he signed his current deal, but Barca think they can win their case an exercise their contract option.

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