Barcelona have agreed to a new six-year deal with Ansu Fati and added a £1billion release clause to the contract.
The La Liga side were afraid of losing the youngster to their rivals at the end of the season for nothing, but have now successfully tied him down at the Nou Camp for another six years.
The 18-year-old has been a revelation since he broke through the first-team ranks at Barcelona. He is considered one of the most exciting young talent in world football and is a key member of Ronald Koeman‘s squad.
He was rested for the first half of Barca’s Champions League win over Dynamo Kyiv, with Ronald Koeman holding back his most important player for Sunday’s Clasico. The youngster is still regaining full fitness after a long injury layoff but has already contributed two goals this season since his return.
There were suggestions last week that the huge release clause Barca was proposing to be added to his new deal was proving a difficult point. But now Fati has agreed on a deal, and in doing so becomes Barca’s second billion euro player alongside Pedri, who was also has a £1billion release clause.
Fati is seen as the ideal replacement for Lionel Messi and was handed the Argentine’s legendary number 10 shirt after several senior Barca players had turned it down.
Before their game against Dynamo Kyiv, Sergio Aguero—one of those who could have taken the shirt this summer – praised Fati for his confidence in picking up the number 10 shirt, calling him a ‘special talent’.
“The 10 fits Ansu nicely,” Aguero said.
“He’s playing well, and he has a very special talent. He is young and they have to let him grow.
“We have to support him and make sure that he is comfortable on the pitch. He is one of those players that does not come around very often.”
