Barcelona attacker who last played for the club 2023 wanted by Jose Mourinho at Fenerbache: Reports
Barcelona attacker Ansu Fati last played for the Catalan giants in 2023, with his future at the club now uncertain. The forward has struggled to meet the lofty expectations placed on him, and now, there is interest from Fenerbache's new manager Jose Mourinho.
Fati played alongside Lionel Messi at Camp Nou. Having come through their academy, he scored 29 goals and provided 10 assists in 112 games for the Blaugrana. However, he struggled to rediscover his form after dealing with lengthy injury problems. This led to a loan spell at Brighton & Hove Albion last season, where he scored four goals in 27 games across competitions.
Injury problems have persisted, leading to the English club's decision to let him leave at the end of his loan spell. Now back to Barcelona, it seems unlikely that he will retain a starting berth easily, especially as the club are not short of wingers across both flanks.
This has led to rumors from outlets in Turkey (via Football Espana) about a potential move for Ansu Fati from Spain. Fenerbahce sporting director Mario Branco has reportedly had conversations with the 21-year-old winger's agent Jorge Mendes.
The Turkish giants are making moves with Jose Mourinho's plans in mind, and they are said to view Fati as a potentially splashy signing. They will need to be wary about interest from Sevilla, who have also shown strong interest in the winger's services.
Ansu Fati has begun to impress at Barcelona training facilities
Ansu Fati has returned from Brighton with his loan spell now ended. With pre-season around the corner, the forward has already taken to the training facilities to undergo tests and show he is ready to play for Barcelona next season.
According to AS (via Barca Universal), Fati has spent some time at the Cuitat Esportiva facilities, where he has worked under physical trainer Julio Tous. He has reportedly passed his strength tests, pleasing the members of staff monitoring his progress.
The report has also claimed that new Barcelona manager Hansi Flick would like to give Fati a chance to show what he can do. Sporting director Deco reportedly asked for this. He let Fati know that he potentially had a part to play in the club's sporting project.
However, the Spaniard has an impressive wage of over €10 million, with his contract expiring in 2027. Deco has reportedly warned Fati that he may not be able to continue with the club at such a high wage. This is understandable due to Barcelona's highly publicized financial struggles.