Ansu Fati OUT, Joao Felix IN? Jorge Mendes could hold key to Barcelona transfer business
Paul Macdonald
- Updated: 22 Aug 2023 05:34 CDT
- 3 min read
Ansu Fati could hold the key to any potential Barcelona move for Joao Felix before the end of the transfer window.
Felix is desperate to find a new club, with relations with Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone having collapsed, and the player has been told he has no future at the club.
Felix spent the second half of last season on loan at Chelsea but the Blues chose not to pursue a permanent deal for the Portuguese, who cost Atleti €127m to sign from Benfica in 2019.
READ MORE: Barcelona STRUGGLING to register new signing and ex-Chelsea star
There was also whisperings that a move to Saudi Arabia could happen, but the player is thought to want to stay in Europe, leaving Barcelona as the only remaining destination.
The 23-year-old would be welcomed by Xavi but only if he can offload one of his attacking players first, and the most likely option would be Ansu Fati.
Fati, once the bright hope of Barcelona, has struggled to regain his best form after sustaining a serious knee injury and suffering further setbacks in his rehabilitation.
READ MORE: Barcelona complete transfer to open door for Cancelo
He is no longer considered first-choice by Xavi, having been on the bench for the opening two league games of the season. But both he and Felix share the same agent - Jorge Mendes.
Mendes had promised Atleti earlier in the summer that he would secure a move for his client, but that has yet to materialise, and his last option may be to find a move for Fati so that Felix can be integrated into Barcelona.
Will Ansu Fati leave Barcelona?
Manchester United had shown interest in Fati a few years ago but that has since cooled and it's unclear if any other clubs - particularly in the Premier League - would be open to a bid.
Barcelona continue to suffer from wage bill issues and would have to operate a one in, one out policy in order to make the transfer of Felix happen this summer.
