Manchester United had a quiet summer transfer window by their own high standards. While the likes of Donny van de Beek, Edinson Cavani, Alex Telles, Amad and Facundo Pellistri were signed, there was the lack of a high-profile name who would grab all the headlines.
This was put down to the financial impact of the global pandemic and their failure to meet Borussia Dortmund’s €120 million asking price for Jadon Sancho. But according to recent reports, they might have made an even bigger bid for another youngster, which was rejected.
As reported by Mundo Deportivo, Manchester United had made an incredible €150 million bid for FC Barcelona teenager Ansu Fati but it was rejected by them.
Fati is still just 18 years of age and burst onto the scene last season. But the early promise shown by him was enough for the Red Devils to try and bring him to Old Trafford with a humongous bid.
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Manchester United failed to sign Ansu Fati
It is not hard to see why FC Barcelona were reluctant to let the youngster leave. It looks likely that they will lose Lionel Messi in the upcoming summer transfer window as the club have continued to underperform for several years now and the Argentine great only a few years of top level football left. Thus, he will probably look to move to a club with a fighting chance at winning the Champions League when his contract is up at the end of the season.
In many ways, Fati is seen as the successor to Messi. While it is very early to judge whether he can fill the legend’s boots at Camp Nou and probably too much to expect of anyone, the early signs have been promising to say the least.
Last season, he had scored 8 goals and provided a assist as well in 33 appearances. And this season, it looked like he had taken his game to the next level entirely, scoring 5 goals and providing 4 assists in just 596 minutes of action before being forced out of action with an injury.