Ansu Fati is poised to depart FC Barcelona soon, with his loan move to AS Monaco nearing completion.
The 22-year-old forward, who lost his place under Hansi Flick this season, has decided to join the Ligue 1 club, turning down interest from Chelsea.
One last hurdle remains
According to SPORT, a crucial detail still needs to be finalized before the transfer can be confirmed.
Barcelona and Monaco have agreed on the loan terms, including wage sharing and a purchase option of about €20 million.
However, talks are still underway over a buy-back clause that Barcelona wants to include for Ansu, and no agreement has been reached on that matter yet.
Barcelona originally aimed for a permanent transfer but have agreed to a loan deal with an option to buy as a workable compromise. However, the club is firm on including a buy-back clause in case Ansu returns to his top form.
Monaco was initially reluctant to accept the buy-back clause, but indications now show both parties are close to reaching an agreement, even if the buy-back price is set high.
Everyone involved is keen to finalize the deal quickly
Monaco became Fati’s favored choice after talks with his agent, Jorge Mendes, who visited Barcelona to help complete the transfer.
The young forward acknowledged he was no longer in the club’s long-term plans and considered several options. In the end, he approved the move to Monaco and went on holiday while the clubs finalized the details.
It’s also crucial for Ansu to establish residency in Monaco by June to benefit from the country’s favorable tax laws, which is financially advantageous for both the player and Barcelona.
From Barcelona’s point of view, Fati’s departure is key to reducing the wage bill. As an academy graduate with a high salary and a contract running until 2027, his exit will free up substantial budget space.
This freed-up financial capacity could then be used to reinforce the squad, particularly if Barcelona continues to uphold their 1:1 salary-to-revenue ratio, which currently seems likely.
