Leaving Barcelona cannot be an easy decision.
While the Catalan giants may no longer be the force of old, they remain one of the biggest clubs in the world and most attractive brands in the sport.
Which is why Ansu Fati faces a difficult choice this summer.
A player to have once been labelled a “generational talent” by ESPN, the 20-year-old has struggled for game time this season.
Fati, who continues to be linked with a move to Newcastle, has made just 11 starts in La Liga across the whole campaign.
A product of Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy, injuries have hampered his progress all while the club continue to spend big on new recruits amid a backdrop of financial uncertainty.
Fati will only leave Barcelona if Xavi tells him to
Still, according to COPE, there is little to guarantee he will leave Camp Nou this summer.
Agent Jorge Mendes is said to have travelled to Spain for talks with the club over his client’s future.
At this stage, however, a transfer is not said to be on the cards and Fati will only look for a move if Barca boss Xavi explicitly tells Mendes his client must leave in a face-to-face talk.
Newcastle should look elsewhere
While you cannot blame Fati for wanting to make a success of things at Barcelona, this looks like an avenue Newcastle should avoid going down.
Clearly, his heart lies with this boyhood club and to try and force a begrudging move away hardly seems like the most logical idea.
Indeed, Newcastle could well be a Champions League team next season. That, coupled with the money and ambition on offer, would naturally lead to a number of players actively wanting to join the club.
There is little use in trying to convince someone who might not want to come.
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