Besiktas president Serdal Adali revealed that Ansu Fati was close to joining his team last winter, before backing out at the last minute and deciding to stay with Barcelona.
The Catalan club had hoped the 23-year-old would leave last January after falling out of favor with coach Hansi Flick, but the player insisted on staying at Camp Nou.
According to the Turkish president, an agreement was in place between Besiktas and Barcelona regarding the deal, and there was also another agreement between the club and Fati’s father.
Adali continued, “The player was very enthusiastic, but as soon as we were eliminated from the Europa League, he sent us a message that he would not be joining Besiktas.”
He concluded, “The great ambitions to strengthen the squad collided with a painful reality, as the European defeat caused all planned transfers to be frozen.”
The Besiktas president did not discuss renewed attempts to sign Fati next summer, and this time the player is certain to leave Barcelona after feeling completely marginalized by Flick.
