In the final of the Spanish Super Cup, Barcelona defeated their league rivals Real Madrid with a convincing 5-2 scoreline, leaving Real Madrid embarrassed. Pique once again displayed his "five fingers" celebration, and if not for Szczesny's red card, Barcelona could have won with an even greater margin. Under Flick's leadership, Barcelona has scored 9 goals in two matches against Real Madrid this season, showing their dominance. The day after winning the Spanish Super Cup, Barcelona issued an ultimatum: the 22-year-old forward who won the title without playing much is no longer favored by Flick.
On January 14th, according to reports from Spain's "Mundo Deportivo," Barcelona coach Flick no longer trusts Fati and has closed the door on him. Judging by Flick's team selection, Fati is now on the fringes of the team, with no place in the squad, and Barcelona is eager for him to leave.
In these two Spanish Super Cup matches, Fati was absent from the squad list in the semi-final against Athletic Bilbao and was once again left out in the title-deciding match against Real Madrid. Catalan radio station RAC1 revealed that Fati did not make the matchday squad due to technical decisions made by the team. A 16-year-old forward, Fernandez, was included in Barcelona's semi-final squad, while an 18-year-old defender, Ford, was selected for both matches, but Fati was continuously left out, indicating his low priority in the team's lineup.
Barcelona's victory in the Spanish Super Cup can be said to have had no contribution from Fati, yet he remains a champion member of the team, winning a trophy without playing. How does this make Kane feel? Considering Fati's physical condition, on-field performance, and high salary, it is understandable that Barcelona wants to part ways with him. Fati has had many injuries and is physically fragile. Last season, he was loaned to Brighton with limited impact, scoring only 4 goals and providing 1 assist in the entire season. Fati has not scored a goal in 14 months, with his last goal coming in November 2023.
The professional salary data website Capology previously conducted a statistical analysis of La Liga players' salaries, revealing that Fati earns approximately 270,000 euros per week, amounting to an annual salary of 13.95 million euros. Griezmann, the core player of Atletico Madrid, earns an annual salary of 12.5 million euros, which is less than what Fati makes, making the situation quite unusual. Barcelona previously renewed Fati's contract until 2027, a generous move that has turned out to be a significant pitfall for the team. Given Fati's abilities, he cannot even make it into Barcelona's squad now, Flick does not favor him, and his salary is too high.
Despite Barcelona's desire for Fati to leave, it is difficult to find a buyer. "Mundo Deportivo" indicates that Fati is also reluctant to be loaned out again. Fati can still receive a big contract at Barcelona even without playing, so naturally, he is unwilling to leave. As the number 10 for Barcelona, he can choose to lie low and wait for a free transfer.