Jorge Mendes, the influential agent, is already in Barcelona to start dealing with the future of four footballers he represents with outstanding accounts with FC Barcelona. The Portuguese has been in charge of Ansu Fati’s affairs since 2020. The footballer’s future at the club of his life hangs in the balance. From 2021 Mendes also represents Balde, on the way to renewal with the first team just like Lamine Yamal, the 15-year-old youth who has also been in his portfolio since January 2023. He will also discuss the future of Nico González, whom he represents from 2022. The Barcelona player, who has played on loan at Valencia this season, continues to fail to convince Xavi. Mendes met yesterday afternoon with the footballers who are in Barcelona – all except Nico González, who is with the under 21 team – and today he will do so with the sports leadership.
Waiting for Xavi Hernández to speak with him this week, the youngster already knows that, along with Ferran Torres and Franck Kessié, he is one of those invited to leave the club. After inheriting the 10 from Messi in September 2021, Fati renewed with Barcelona until 2027 with a termination clause of 1,000 million euros. He currently has one of the highest records in the squad, but he is also the team’s second top scorer with 10 goals. The same goals as Raphinha, although Fati scored them in 1,824 minutes compared to the 2,924 it took for the Brazilian. Fati has already made it clear to his agent that he does not want to leave, but the Barcelona top brass believe that he will end up accepting at least a transfer. In the case of a sale, the club wants to maintain a non-obligatory buyback option to be able to repurchase it if it wants to in the future. They are aware of his talent, but believe that the best for him is an outing to regain his competitive tone and physicality, weakened after four knee operations. The club’s decision is also influenced by the fact that Ansu Fati is a player trained in the academy, and his sale would only bring net income to the operating account. Fati has a sign in the Premier League, but the option of entering into a player exchange operation with Wolverhampton’s Rúben Neves is practically ruled out, as the Lusitanian midfielder is not to Xavi’s liking.
Last summer, Barça expected Jorge Mendes to bring the club a good offer for Alejandro Balde. A year later, the Catalan full-back has agreed to renew with the Barcelona club after becoming one of the great revelations of the season. After coming on as a substitute in the first league game against Rayo Vallecano, Xavi opted for the left-back, who has since become his favorite ahead of Jordi Alba and Marcos Alonso. Nor are they ruling him out to occupy the right-back. Balde has played this season with the club’s card and number. He has a contract until 2024, but Barça wants to renew it until 2027 with a first team card. It won’t be possible in the short term. They need to sell. Meanwhile, Balde already has the interest of Bayern Munich and two other Premier League clubs on the table, but his desire is to continue with Blaugrana.
The talented 15-year-old is getting closer and closer to signing his first contract as a professional until June 2024. The renewal, which should be completed before June 30, will be with the club’s card and number, but with Xavi watching him closely. If he renews, he will safely do the pre-season and the tour of the United States with the first team and will continue to participate in training. You will also enjoy more minutes.
Before going on loan to Valencia, the youngster renewed his contract as a Barcelona player until June 2026 with a clause of 1,000 million euros. This year, Nico could go on loan again, in this case to Betis, who have been very interested in him. Xavi doesn’t want to lose sight of him, but he also doesn’t see him as Sergio Busquets’ replacement. Although they value his evolution more and more, they consider his profile to be more similar to that of Frenkie de Jong. “In that position the most important thing is not to run. It’s knowing how to move the ball while maintaining the position”, they remember.
