Barcelona genius Azu Fati has revealed that he has rejected an overseas offer to sign a new six-year contract at Camp Nou. The 18-year-old star has attracted foreign interest ahead of a new contract with Catalonia, whose previous contract expires next summer. However, speculation about his future has been well confirmed, with the teenager agreeing to a six-year deal that includes a €1 billion release clause.
Fati is the second Barca tycoon to receive a long-term contract award this month, after Pedri has been working for the club until 2026. As part of Fati's new covenant, Barcelona held a press conference to unveil his new jersey. After graduating, La Masia inherited Messi's No. 10 jersey.
The Argentine legend left Barcelona in the summer to join PSG, where he was unable to sign a new contract at his beloved club due to financial constraints. As a result, Fati is now under pressure to take over as the club's still cherished master, with Fati saying he has no worries about Messi's cape. Fati said of inheriting the number 10 shirt: "Messi and a lot of players wear number 10 shirts, it's true, but I'm calm. "I know what I can bring to this team.
For me, it's not stress. No one is going to be like Leo, no one is going to be like [former captain Karls] Puyol or Xavi [Hernandez]. No one can match what Leo did. I want to follow my own journey. I still didn't do anything. I hope I can have a career like theirs. 'Any player can wear a number 10 and I'm grateful to the captain for giving me that number, luckily I got it.' That's an extra motivation for me. I don't look at the numbers, but focus on what I can do on the pitch to help the team.
Fati made 48 appearances for Barca in his initial career, scoring 15 goals and six assists, and he is seen as the future of the club, with precocious youngsters Garvey and Pedri, all of whom are already first-team members of the club. Barca can thank their lucky star, Fati, unencumbered by the temptation to move overseas, is likely to play in the Premier League, with the soon-to-be 19-year-old revealing that he turned down an invitation abroad before signing a new contract. He continued: "Yes, I received an invitation from abroad. But my dream is here. "From day one, I told [agent] Jorge Mendes that my first option was to stay at Barca forever." He totally understands that and I'm glad the club trusts me. “