Barcelona want to extend 21-year-old forward’s loan in the Premier League amid financial woes

Ansu Fati was destined for great things at Barcelona, but injuries impeded his path and eventually forced him to join Brighton & Hove Albion on loan last summer in search of more minutes.

Unfortunately, his time in England hasn’t been without its challenges either. Fati endured an injury towards the end of last year, sidelining him for several months.

With consistent game time eluding the youngster, he has struggled to secure consistent opportunities on the pitch, leaving his future in a haze of uncertainty.

The Catalan giants acknowledge that Fati is still striving to rediscover the brilliance he once displayed, which minimizes the possibility of his return this year and hints that another loan deal may be in the offing.

Return to Barcelona looks unlikely

Indeed, as per SPORT Barcelona’s decision-makers are observing Fati’s situation closely and admit that complications with ‘fair play’ might force the La Masia graduate to go on loan once more.

Meanwhile, Brighton coach Roberto De Zerbi is intent on extracting the full potential of Fati, having only scratched the surface of his talent with injuries interrupting the 21-year-old’s adaptation to the Premier League.

Ansu Fati’s injury history

Since tearing his meniscus against Real Betis back in 2020, injuries have befallen Fati at a concerningly high frequency.

In the 2021/22 campaign, Fati faced a series of injuries in quick succession. With a history of hamstring injuries known to weaken muscle fibers, the likelihood of re-injury increases considerably.

And it appears that campaign especially took a toll on the youngster’s physical shape, as he has yet to acquire regularity, with a calf injury most recently halting his progress.

De Zerbi still trusts Ansu Fati

It is clear that De Zerbi still believes in Fati because he has shown faith in the player’s ability to succeed under his direction.

Despite the fact that the injury has interfered with the initial intentions, De Zerbi is still certain that Fati can thrive under his direction once more, and Brighton may look to prolong his loan for the upcoming season.

In the event that De Zerbi leaves the Seagulls, with the coach currently being demanded by many European clubs, he has expressed interest in taking Fati with him to continue his development.