Barcelona have a difficult decision to make when it comes to this season’s revelation, Ansu Fati.
Ansu Fati broke onto the scene this season with Barcelona. He made his professional debut at 17 under Ernesto Valverde and quickly made an impact.
He became integral to the club’s success in large part because of the injuries to Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi early in the season. But with Messi’s return and the acquisition of Martin Braithwaite, he’s seen fewer playing time leaving the Catalans with a decision to make about his future.
More from Everything Barca
- FC Barcelona tracking Belgian Wonderkid
- FC Barcelona vs Betis Player Ratings
- Barça boss Xavi to get contract extension
- FC Barcelona planning swoop for Arsenal midfielder
- Barcelona interested in €30 million wonderkid
According to Sport, Borussia Dortmund are now said to be interested in the latest jewel from La Masia. Dortmund believe that he would make a good replacement should they end up losing Jadon Sancho.
Barcelona would only consider a loan as they see Fati as a player they can build around and one that would be important in the post-Messi era.
A loan move to Dortmund is appealing and makes sense as the Bundesliga side are renowned for giving young players an opportunity and helping them develop.
The Catalans know with Messi, Suarez, Griezmann, Braithwaite and Dembele, playing time for Fati would be limited. Even more so if they sign either Lautaro Martinez or Neymar.
However, according to Mundo Deportivo, the club have no plans to let Fati leave. Their plan is to have him continue training with the first team and if he does not make matchday squads with the first team, then he’d play with Barça B.
It’s a plan they’ve used before with Riqui Puig and Carles Aleña. Though that may not instill much confidence considering the former has yet to become a fixture on the first team and the latter is currently out on loan.
Also, their plan would work better if Barça B were to be promoted to Spain’s second division. Fati is much too talented for the third tier and as we’ve seen with Puig, would be the recipient of hard tackles and nasty challenges.
Fati is one of the few academy players who actually managed to get an opportunity with the first team, deliver and continue to get more playing time. For a while now, Barcelona have cast aside their academy players in favor of expensive signings that ultimately flop.
Barcelona supporters may not want Fati to leave but looking at this logically, he is likely to develop further if he plays first team football and the Catalans can’t provide that for him at the moment. A loan to Dortmund would.
The question the club is going to have to ask themselves before they make any decision is if Fati will benefit more from staying, training with the first team and getting the occasional game here and there or playing more consistently albeit at a different club.
Regardless of what the final decision is, the overriding factor that need to be considered is which choice is going to be the best for Fati and his development going forward.