Barcelona coach Xavi won't rule out Ansu Fati transfer amid Arsenal links

Arsenal's Ben White shakes hands with Barcelona's Ansu Fati during a pre-season friendly in the summer of 2023.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Barcelona coach Xavi has refused to rule out a summer switch for reported Arsenal target Ansu Fati.

With Barcelona still needing to raise funds in order to register players for the new season, Fati is one of a number of players who has been linked with an exit.

Xavi has praised the player on a number of occasions, but his answers on the topic have been non-committal and he was questioned again by the Spanish media about Fati's future on Saturday.

Speaking ahead of Sunday's LaLiga game against Getafe, he said: "I don't understand when you say I'm not very convincing [on the matter]. Until the window shuts [anything can happen]..."

"I'm happy with him, he is heritage of this club. I don't know how I should say it. The market will dictate, and that is up until August 31st...

"I can't say he will stay because perhaps he won't. But I'm happy with him: he is a player for the present and the future."

Fati, who is still only 20 years old, is already preparing for his fifth season at Barcelona. However, he has struggled to replicate his early form after a serious of injuries and is seemingly no longer considered indispensable by the Catalan club.

More Arsenal stories

Arsenal are tipped to tie up a deal to bring Brentford goalkeeper David Raya to north London in the next few days.

Meanwhile, two wingers are expected to leave the club this month.

And the Gunners are reportedly willing to offer two players to Inter Milan in exchange for Nicolo Barella.

Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.