Transfer Centre

Barcelona starlet Ansu Fati 'rejected Real Madrid move'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 17 September 2019

Barcelona starlet Ansu Fati reportedly turned down the chance to move to Real Madrid before committing his future to the Spanish champions during the summer.

Barcelona starlet Ansu Fati reportedly rejected the chance to join bitter rivals Real Madrid before signing a new contract at Camp Nou this summer.

The 16-year-old put pen to paper on a deal which will keep him at the club until 2022 and also contains a release clause of €100m (£88.8m).

Injuries to Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have seen Fati handed a chance in the senior team at the start of this season, and he has subsequently shot to prominence with two goals and an assist in three La Liga appearances so far.

The youngster scored one and created another within the opening seven minutes of his full debut on Saturday as Barcelona thrashed Valencia 5-2.

Mundo Deportivo reports that there was interest in Fati before he committed his future to the Spanish champions, though, with Real Madrid and Sevilla both attempting to steal him away from Barca.

West Ham United and Ligue 1 outfit Nice are also understood to have held talks with the winger, who has already been compared to Messi following the blistering start to his career.