Brighton signing Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati on loan last September was one of the most surprising moves of the Premier League summer transfer window. Despite the high hopes for Fati at Brighton, he has not torn it up on the South Coast so far this season.
The 21-year-old has scored just four goals in all competitions this season and has been plagued by injuries since November. As bad as it’s been for Fati, Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi is not willing to give up on the young winger just yet.
According to Diario SPORT reporter Toni Juanmartí, De Zerbi wants to bring Fati back on loan next season. De Zerbi reportedly thinks Fati just needs a little more time. “Fati is a sleeping giant and Roberto is determined to wake him up,” says the bombshell Diario SPORT report.
This news comes just days after rumors broke that Barcelona were ready to move on from Fati after successive disappointing seasons at Barcelona and now at Brighton.
With this news in mind, another loan to the Seagulls could be something Barcelona are willing to do, especially considering that Brighton would continue to pay all of Fati’s €160k/week salary.
However, other reports say Barcelona are only interested in selling Fati this summer. These reports say the club’s perilous financial situation and inability to meet La Liga FFP requirements means they need to cash in on the 21-year-old before it is too late.
Another issue that complicated Fati going back to Brighton on loan next season is Roberto De Zerbi’s future. The Italian manager has two years left on his Brighton contract, but it’s seeming more likely by the day that he might leave this summer.
De Zerbi has been strongly linked to the soon-to-be-vacant Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona jobs. He’s also one of the favorites to take over the Manchester United job if Sir Jim Ratcliffe sacks Erik ten Hag this summer. To make matters worse for Brighton fans, De Zerbi’s assistant coach said this week that the Italian could go to Napoli.
De Zerbi may get his wish and get to coach Fati again next season, but it might not be at Brighton.
