Bori Fati, the father of Barcelona forward Ansu Fati, has delivered a punchy interview questioning his son’s lack of playing time while hinting at a possible move away.
Fati made his Barcelona debut in August 2019 as a 16-year-old, becoming the club’s second youngest player in the history of the Spanish top flight. The fleet-footed forward went on to break age-old records for appearances and goals – both at club level and with the senior Spanish national team – until suffering a serious knee injury in November 2020.
Fati did not return to the pitch until September 2021, but has since been re-integrated into the first team by various muscle problems.
Fati could only afford nine league starts despite being available for 25 of the club’s 26 games this season, the lack of game time clearly irking his father Bori. When tasked with providing an explanation for his meager attendance, Fati Sr directed the question as Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez.
“Good question, ask him,” Bori Fati snapped on Spanish radio station Cadena Cope. “I don’t have an answer to that either and he as a coach will have his reasons.” Maybe he thinks he lacks things like defense and I understand that.”
Bori revealed that he will meet Fatih’s agent Jorge Mendes in the coming weeks to discuss his son’s immediate future.
Fatih’s contract at Barcelona expires in 2027 and the club reportedly has the option to extend it by a further two years, but Bori revealed there was interest in his son in the past, which was quashed by Josep Maria Bartomeu, Barcelona club president before Joan Laporta returned to office.
“As a father, I am angry, yes. Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t have a problem with that. Everyone knows who Mendes is. He told me two years ago that he had offers and Bartomeu didn’t want to listen to them.”
According to his father, Fati’s intention was always to stay in Catalonia. “For Ansa, yes. It will depend on what Barça wants. If it’s for me, I want to see Ansu succeed because he is a person who comes to succeed. There are things that cannot be discussed.”
However, 90min revealed in February that the player’s representatives had indicated to the Premier League’s big six and Newcastle United that Fati was currently unhappy with his situation at Camp Nou.
Fatih’s father also revealed that he had discussions with Barcelona director of football Mateu Almemany regarding Fatih’s lack of playing time. “I called Mateo. I think we deserve much more. When you are at Barça, you know where you are and that there are many internationals. But we’re talking about Barcelona [number] ten.”
“If it continues like this, I’m going to Sevilla, that’s it,” threatened Bori. “I didn’t go to the match against Madrid, why not. I’m not going to the stadium now. I have my box and I’m not going anymore.”
