Man City eyed Ansu Fati deal but had to give attacker to Barcelona in return

Barcelona superstar Ansu Fati could have joined Manchester City this summer if the right offer came in, with the Premier League champions having offered Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva in a swap-deal

Posted Sunday, September 26, 2021 by Dailystar.co.uk

Manchester City reportedly looked to sign Barcelona starlet Ansu Fati this summer by offering Raheem Sterling in a swap deal.

The 18-year-old Spaniard is one Europe’s most highly-sought talents and had been taking La Liga by storm before his meniscus injury last year.

And it has been reported that City manager Pep Guardiola was looking to bring the mercurial winger to the Etihad in a raid of his former club.

Among those being offered to the Catalans was England hero Sterling and Portugal international Bernardo Silva, who had been looking for a way out of the Manchester club this summer.

Ansu Fati was pursued by Man City this summer

Sterling was increasingly left on the bench towards the latter part of last season and Jack Grealish’s £100million arrival meant his future at the club was uncertain.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Bernardo Silva was eager to take up a new challenge and had been linked with Italian side AC Milan among others.

And according to Spanish outlet SPORT, Barcelona would have allowed Fati to leave if they had received a huge cash offer.

This comes despite Fati being widely regarded one of Barcelona’s most promising players alongside 18-year-old Pedri.

Barcelona eventually offered French winger Ousmane Dembele and Martin Braithwaite in an attempt to avoid losing their wonder-kid but the proposal was rejected by the Premier League champions.

Fati now has less than a year left on his contract which could see City reignite their interest in the player in January.

Barcelona are believed to have an option to extend his deal by two additional years but Fati could decide it’s time for a change due to the club being in a bleak rebuilding phase.