Xavi's HILARIOUS reaction to Fati Real Madrid links
FT Desk
- 19 Aug 2023 15:40 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona coach Xavi was in no mood to jest after learning of reports linking star forward Ansu Fati to Real Madrid.
Fati is said to be unsettled at Camp Nou after falling down the club's pecking order over the course of 2022-23.
And with the club still keen to raise further funds in order to fight off the spectre of Financial Fair Play censure, they are reportedly willing to sell should the right offer come in for the talented Spain international.
READ MORE: Barcelona to pay 40% of flop's wages AFTER transfer
There are limits to his possible destination, however, as journalists found out when floating a potential move to Barca's arch-rivals Madrid to the bemused coach.
"That is a joke, right?" Xavi fired in Friday's press conference.
"I have been very clear on this, senseless debates have been created. Ansu is an asset to this club, right now and in the future."
But the coach did acknowledge that the obligation to meet fair-play laws could force the club's hands in certain cases.
Barca facing more fair-play woes
"We have a difficult situation with the issue of fair-play," he added.
"It has been with us for a while and it is a complex situation with which we are struggling. You can already see it in the issue of registrations.
"In the end we will have to assess and set our priorities for the team and make decisions based on this."
Fati was a teenage sensation for Barca when he made his debut for the Catalans in 2019 aged just 16 years and 298 days.
But two serious injury setbacks kept him out of contention for the best part of two seasons between 2020 and 2022 and he struggled to find his top form in the last campaign, while the emergence of fellow young stars Pedri and Gavi put further pressure on him to maintain a regular first-team place.
