Barcelona would only sell Ansu Fati if he makes first move for transfer

The noise around Ansu Fati has started. The perfect storm for a possible exit is growing due to several factors: he is not getting enough quality minutes, Barcelona will need to make some big sales in the summer and clubs like Manchester United need strikers to cover their deficiencies.

Ansu is a very appealing player for many clubs and Barça know of the movement around him, but it is not the moment to do anything, nor will Barça push for a sale.

The idea of both the sporting committee and the coaching staff is to close ranks around the player and hope that, as Xavi said, things work out for him and the waters return to their course. There are still months to go until the summer and they are confident that the situation will be reversed, although all scenarios are open.

Last season, Frenkie de Jong was the player who was singled out to leave. The Dutchman had not quite adapted to Xavi's scheme and was tired of being the first change in every game or of being on the bench too often. His situation prompted Manchester United to make a swoop and then Chelsea joined the party but his determination to continue meant that De Jong stayed put.

There were wounds created from that moment and, for that reason, Barça do not want this to happen again with Ansu. If a sale is to happen in the future, it will be more in case the player takes the step and wants to leave than because Barça put him on the market. And that step has not been taken.

It is true that Ansu expected to have played more after recovering from injury, but the competition is fierce and Xavi is now opting to play with one more midfielder. He has found something that works and will not change this scheme between now and the end of the season. Lewandowski has a secure place and Dembélé, when he recovers, will be the other forward. Barring a major surprise, Ansu will remain on the bench for the big games and there is a limit to his patience, although it remains to be seen how far he will go.

The player's agent, Jorge Mendes, has been accumulating interest in recent weeks. The Portuguese is always one step ahead of the rest regarding what could happen and has solutions for the future of Ansu on the table. Premier League clubs such as United would be willing to put a lot of money on the table and, at this point, a decision would have to be made.

Everything will be in the hands of the player but do not doubt that a proposal close to 100 million euros, as much as it hurts, could be interesting for everyone. And even more so for Barça who would use him as leverage to give a new twist to the project with signings. Soon we will know more.