Barcelona forward agrees to four-year contract with Ligue 1 club to secure exit | OneFootball

Barcelona have spent the summer transfer window so far focusing on potential transfer targets while also looking to sell players who are no longer part of Flick’s plans.

One of the first sales Barça concentrated on this summer was that of Ansu Fati. The La Masia graduate spent last season on loan at AS Monaco.

The French club wanted to keep him on a permanent basis, and it does look like the 23-year-old’s career at Barça is coming to a close.

According to SPORT, Ansu has now agreed a four-year contract with Monaco to finalise the move away from Barcelona.

Monaco will pay around €11 million for the transfer, with the Catalans working to include several protective clauses that could prove important in the future.

Ansu Fati headed to Monaco permanently. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Barcelona refuse to completely close the door

One of the most interesting aspects of the deal is Barcelona’s determination to retain some level of future control.

The Catalan club are pushing for a buyback clause worth less than €30 million, while also securing a percentage of any future sale.

These are signs that Barça still expect Fati to come good and do not want to lose complete control of him at this stage.

This is a very sensible approach and one that many clubs around Europe have adopted in the past. For example, Real Madrid did the same when they sold Nico Paz to Como.

The club are accepting that Ansu’s immediate future lies elsewhere, but they are also keeping the option of bringing him back, should he become a special player.

A deal that helps Barcelona on multiple fronts

Financially, the operation is important beyond the transfer fee itself. Barcelona are expected to benefit from both the incoming €11 million and the removal of Ansu’s salary from the wage bill.

Barcelona stand to gain from Ansu’s exit. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Together, these factors should help the Catalan club compete better in the transfer market as they continue to focus on reinforcements for Hansi Flick.

Even from a sporting sense, it would be very difficult for Fati to get a look-in among the attacking riches at Flick’s disposal, and he deserves to be at a place where he plays regularly.

A fresh start for a player still loved by many fans

Ansu had other options available but chose Monaco because he believes the sporting project offers the best environment for his development.

After a difficult spell at Barcelona, he now arrives at a club that has shown strong faith in him from the beginning.

The Catalan club have also told him that this is not necessarily a goodbye and that their paths could cross in the future.

Barça are securing an important departure before 30 June, and it remains to be seen how Fati’s career progresses in France.