Man Utd offered almost £85 million for youngster who now can't get a game for his current club four years later
Man Utd dodged a bullet with their failed 2020 transfer pursuit.
Manchester United are said to have offered almost paid £85 million for one of Europe's most talented wonderkids back in 2020 but he is now failing to get any game time for his current side.
United were impressed by one of Barcelona's youngsters four years ago and drew up an eye-watering proposal for the then 16-year-old.
Having failed to start a game so far this season, minutes are proving hard to come by at the Nou Camp.
Injuries have ravaged the Spanish star with his future up in the air after a less-than-convincing loan spell in 2023/24.
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According to The Athletic, the player in question was Barcelona winger Ansu Fati.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted to recruit the forward after the club failed to secure a big-money move for Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho at the time.
Man Utd eventually signed Sancho the following year having cooled their initial interest in Fati.
A lot has changed in four years, with Fati last turning out for Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion.
During his time on the south coast, the now 21-year-old scored just four goals in 30 appearances for the Seagulls.
Having now returned to Barcelona, the Spaniard is now working under a completely new manager.
Hansi Flick was brought in following Xavi's summer departure and has since shaken things up.
Lamine Yamal's rise to stardom wont have helped and the future for Fati remains relatively unclear at present.
Having struggled with various knee injuries in recent years, the La Masia academy graduate has also not played for Spain since 2023.
Fati went on record to state he is happy at the Nou Camp, hoping for bigger and better things to come.
“My intention is to stay at Barcelona, keep going there as I’m under contract and I’m very happy," he said back in 2023.
“I want to keep growing at Barça, I’ve no doubts”.
Flick has admitted injury problems have been a problem for the youngster over the years but seems keen to reintegrate him into his side.
"Ansu on the first days was unbelievable," he said in the summer.
"He was very fit, and he showed it on the pitch and in training.
"And now it is not good and we don’t have him here and in America, but we will help him come back stronger."
Topics: Manchester United, Brighton And Hove Albion, Barcelona, FC Barcelona, Ansu Fati
Matthew Holt