Fati to Brighton shocked us all but this sensible transfer is perfect for the wonderkid (and Barcelona)
Brighton signing Ansu Fati from FC Barcelona (and it making sense) highlights the Premier League’s best-run club’s seismic growth under the brilliant Tony Bloom.
Ansu Fati to Brighton is a transfer that not one person – and especially not Ansu Fati – would have predicted before this summer’s transfer window opened.
It was reported throughout the summer that the 20-year-old was leaning towards staying at Barcelona, but with minutes hard to come by in Spain, the talented attacker performed a dramatic U-turn shortly before the summer window closed.
A loan opportunity was suddenly on the cards for clubs around Europe and reported interest from Big Six clubs has been consistent, which made it seem that a switch to a Premier League big-hitter was the most likely outcome.
Tottenham Hotspur were ‘in contact’ with Barcelona regarding Fati and the prospect of the Spain international playing Angeball was thrilling. But before this deal could be sealed, Brighton swooped to steal Fati from under the noses of their Premier League rivals.
The overriding initial response to this signing was basically ‘Woah… Fair f***s, Brighton’.
But after initially being taken aback, the considered reaction from right-minded football fans *should* be that this transfer makes an awful lot of sense for everyone involved.
Barcelona’s track record with academy players is ludicrously good and Fati is one of the best of their current crop.
Fati is clearly highly regarded at Barcelona; he has been handed the famous No.10 shirt and you’ve got to have something about you to be given this privilege.
He has already played over 100 times for the La Liga giants but his progress was halted when he suffered a pretty nasty rupture to the inner meniscus in his left knee at the end of 2020 that ruled him out of action for around nine months.
Fati has not yet fully recovered from this major setback and he was in and out of the team under head coach Xavi last season.
But aged 20, Fati has many years ahead of him and his decision to sign for Brighton proves that his head is in the right place. He could have easily gone down the expected (and boring) route and joined a European giant, but a spell with the Seagulls is far better for his development.
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Brighton have taken immense strides forward on and off the pitch under owner Bloom, chief executive Paul Barber and technical director David Weir. The club’s recruitment structure is streets ahead of their Premier League rivals, who will not be catching up with the Seagulls any time soon.
It feels like the club’s expert planners are two or three steps ahead of everyone else at all times, with ready-made replacements lined up as soon as their top performers are sold on.
Brighton were not hampered by Marc Cucurella, Yves Bissouma or Leandro Trossard leaving last season and on the evidence of the first four games of the 2023/24 campaign, they are not going to break stride following the exits of Alexis Mac Allister or Moises Caicedo either.
This has also translated to the dugout. There were justifiable fears that Brighton had reached their peak when Graham Potter left to join Chelsea, but they have progressed to a whole new level under Roberto De Zerbi.
When they are in full flow, De Zerbi’s Brighton are arguably the best team to watch in the Premier League.
In the absence of Mac Allister and Caicedo, Evan Ferguson, Kaoru Mitoma and Pervis Estupinan appear next in line to earn themselves mega transfers elsewhere and the money-making Brighton train will carry on chugging along a while after this precious trio moves elsewhere.
Fati has admitted that De Zerbi played a crucial role in his decision to sign for Brighton, and the feel-good and front-foot culture at the Premier League team affords him the perfect platform to kickstart his blossoming career.
Adding a player of Fati’s calibre will boost Brighton as they begin their exciting venture into the Europa League and the versatile attacker will be given the freedom to express himself just as Barcelona starlets are encouraged.
And if all goes to plan, Brighton and Fati will enjoy a thrilling year-long love affair that will set him up to burst back onto the scene at Barcelona in a significant way.
As for Brighton, this signing is proof of how far the club has progressed as they are being recognised as a viable destination by Barcelona and their promising young talents.
Brighton to Barcelona and it doesn’t feel weird. Those Seagulls have come such a long way…
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