Manchester United ‘saw sensational £130MILLION bid for Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati rejected last summer’ – with the LaLiga giants unwilling to offload 18-year-old despite financial crisis
- Teenage sensation Ansu Fati had burst on to the scene at Barcelona last season
- Manchester United saw a huge £130million bid for the 18-year-old turned down
- Mundo Deportivo claim Barcelona view Fati as an integral part of their future
- The switch would have seen Fati become the third-most expensive player ever
Manchester United saw a sensational bid worth £130million for Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati rejected last summer, according to reports.
The 18-year-old burst spectacularly into the first-team at the Nou Camp last season, scoring eight goals in 33 appearances – and has since attracted big-name interest.
Mundo Deportivo have now claimed Fati’s eye-catching displays saw United stump up the eye-watering package.
Manchester United saw a £130m bid for Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati rejected last summer
The offer was promptly rejected by former Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu, however, with the club unsurprisingly not willing to offload their brightest talent.
United’s audacious swoop came with the LaLiga giants in the midst of a financial crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic.
However, despite their woes on and off the field, Barcelona did not want to do business.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was keen on swooping for Fati, 18, after missing out on Jadon Sancho
Fati’s price tag would have seen the teen sensation become the third most expensive player of all time, behind PSG’s star-studded duo Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
The forward has also previously been widely linked to United by several different publications in Spain.
Sport reported in November that United’s advances for Fati were turned down after their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund wideman Jadon Sancho fell short.
Mundo Deportivo added that Pedri and Francisco Trincao were also the subject of bids last summer – although both were rebuffed by Barcelona.
Fati enjoyed a fine start to the term but has been ruled out after knee surgery since November
It is believed the two prodigies, and Fati, are viewed as being an integral part of the future of the club.
Barcelona’s misery this season was compounded by a knee injury picked up by Fati. The budding talent required knee surgery and has been ruled out for several months.
His last appearance came in the 5-2 win against Real Betis on November 7 – although his club were hopeful he would have returned to training by the end of January.
Fati enjoyed a flying start to the campaign, having scored five goals in 12 appearances – including an effort against Real Madrid.
