Not long ago, Ansu Fati was the brightest hope of La Masia, the gem expected to lead the team for years. Today, his role is very different, though he’s once again become important — this time as a trade piece that Barça needs to move on from to free up salary space and push forward the signing of Nico Williams, the Athletic Club winger who has the club dreaming.

A salary that weighs like a burden

That “star” label he earned so early, combined with the board’s rush to promise he’d be the club’s future, made Ansu Fati one of the top 5 earners in the squad. His high wages and constant injuries have turned him into an urgent problem. He’s barely played 300 minutes this season and hasn’t scored a single goal. His frustration is clear, and under Hansi Flick, his future at the club looks all but over.

The exit operation is a priority. Monaco seemed interested, but the high cost of his salary and his low market value make the deal complicated. Barça doesn’t want to cover part of his wages, nor do they want to give up his sporting rights entirely, just in case he manages to turn his career around — something that doesn’t sit well with the team from the principality.

The financial puzzle

Barça is racing against time. The good relationship between Deco and Jorge Mendes could help find a solution, but signing Nico Williams — with a contract reportedly running until 2031 — means the club must act fast if it wants to avoid the same registration mess it faced with Dani Olmo last season.

Can Barça, given its erratic history with Financial Fair Play, create the room needed on the payroll to bring in Nico? Or will it stumble once again in its endless struggle to balance the books?