Neither Lamine Yamal nor Raphinha: The Barcelona player who could leave for Saudi Arabia

FC Barcelona has made a firm decision regarding Ansu Fati. Despite his connection with the fans and his history at La Masia, neither Hansi Flick nor the club's sporting directors see him as part of their plans for next season. After an underwhelming loan spell at Brighton in the Premier League, the Catalan side is now actively working to find him a new club, with a move away from Europe looking increasingly likely.

Barcelona aims to reduce wage bill

One of Barca's main priorities in this transfer window is to lower their wage bill to facilitate squad improvements without breaching Financial Fair Play regulations. As a result, Ansu Fati has become one of the players earmarked for departure, with his high salary proving to be a major hurdle in the club's long-term plans.

The forward, once seen as Lionel Messi's natural successor, has struggled to fulfil his potential since suffering a serious knee injury in 2020. Despite flashes of brilliance, inconsistency and a lack of confidence have prevented him from securing a regular place in the first team. His loan spell at Brighton also failed to deliver the expected impact, as injuries limited his playing time in England's top flight.

Jorge Mendes working on a transfer

Ansu Fati's agent, Jorge Mendes, is already in talks to secure a move for his client. According to Sport, clubs from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates are leading the race, as European sides are reluctant to take on his sizeable wages.

While another loan deal remains an option, Barcelona’s preference is to offload him permanently, allowing them to free up salary space and generate funds for new signings ahead of what is expected to be a challenging summer transfer window.

Saudi Arabia the most likely destination

The Saudi Pro League has emerged as a frequent destination for players struggling to find their footing in Europe's elite competitions. With lucrative contracts and less competitive pressure, Ansu Fati may follow the path of several high-profile stars who have opted to revive their careers in the Middle East.

His future appears all but decided: his time at Barcelona is drawing to a close, and all signs point to him playing in a new league next season, far from the Camp Nou.