Barcelona winger Ansu Fati is set to join Monaco after the Ligue 1 side reached an agreement with Barcelona, settling for a loan deal instead of a permanent move.
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The loan deal includes a buy optionBarcelona extend contract to 2028 to defer his salaryMedical scheduled for this week in MonacoFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to , the 22-year-old winger will join the Ligue 1 side for the 2025-26 season, with Monaco holding an option to buy him outright at the end of the campaign. Before completing the move, Barcelona will extend Fati’s contract until 2028. He is expected to travel to Monaco on either Wednesday or Thursday, with a medical scheduled for this week.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Once tipped to be Lionel Messi’s heir at Camp Nou, Fati’s journey hasn’t quite gone to plan at the club. His rapid rise was cut short by a serious knee injury in November 2020, and what seemed like a routine recovery turned into a long and frustrating spell. Since then, Fati has struggled to return to his old self that made him one of Europe’s most exciting young talents.
After struggling to get back to his best post-injury, Barcelona decided to send the winger on loan to Brighton for the 2023-24 season. But things didn’t quite click in England either. The 22-year-old made just 19 appearances and scored twice. Back at Barca, it didn’t get much better. Under new boss Hansi Flick, Fati barely got a look-in, which led to more frustrations.
Monaco reached out to Barca after the end of the season after agreeing on personal terms with Fati, but the deal reportedly collapsed after Barca rejected their opening offer. At first, the club held out for a permanent deal, but with no serious bids coming in, they reopened talks with Monaco and have now reached an agreement, with the French side covering part of his wages.
DID YOU KNOW?
He became the youngest player to score in the Champions League for Barcelona at 17 years, 40 days. He also became the youngest player to wear Barcelona’s famous No. 10 jersey after Messi’s departure in 2021.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR FATI AND BARCA?
Fati will undergo his medical with Monaco this week and immediately join their preseason training squad, which begins on Saturday. For Barcelona, the loan helps ease their wage bill as they look to make new signings, one of them potentially being Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford, who has expressed interest in joining the La Liga giants this summer.