Manchester United reportedly made a €100million (£83.5m) offer for Ansu Fati back in the summer of 2020.
Fati, 21, burst onto the scene with Barcelona in the 2019-20 season, making his debut at the age of 16.
That campaign, he scored eight goals in 33 games, becoming Barcelona’s youngest goalscorer in the process, while he came second in the 2020 Golden Boy award behind Erling Haaland.
Barcelona had extremely high hopes for Fati – who made his Spain debut aged 17 – and he took the No 10 shirt vacated by Lionel Messi when the Argentine left the club in 2021, while the forward was also soon tied down to a bumper new contract.
However, Fati has endured a torrid run of injuries in recent years and is yet to fulfil the potential that saw him once tipped as a potential Ballon d’Or winner.
Man United reportedly made a €100m (£83.5m) offer for Ansu Fati in the summer of 2020
Fati broke onto the scene at Barcelona as a 16-year-old and was tipped for global stardom
So impressive was his breakthrough that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United tried to sign him
Fati was shipped out on loan to Brighton last season in an attempt to resurrect his career, but he again struggled for fitness and scored just four goals for the Seagulls.
He had been absent with a foot injury so far this season, but has returned to the matchday squad in recent weeks, and at the age of 21, Fati still has plenty of time to realise his immense potential.
And, according to The Athletic, so impressive was his initial breakthrough that United attempted to sign the forward for €100m (£83.5m) back in the summer of 2020.
Reports at the time claimed United had been in conversations with Fati’s then-agent Jorge Mendes, but Barcelona were desperate to keep their prized talent.
It was also said that United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted to bring in Fati after the club failed to secure a big-money move for Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho, with the Englishman eventually joining the club for £73m the following year.
Fati, who has not played for Spain since October 2023, has struggled with various knee injuries in recent years, which have led to other fitness issues.
United moved for Fati after their initial attempts to sign Jadon Sancho in 2020 fell through
Fati has endured a difficult few years of his career, struggling with form and fitness issues
He remains under contract at the Nou Camp until the summer of 2027 and is reported to be on a high salary in relation to several of his colleagues in Barcelona’s first team squad.
The report claims Fati’s wages were a hurdle in Barcelona’s attempts to raise transfer interest in the 21-year-old over the summer.
However, having returned to fitness, Barcelona are desperate for Fati to get back to his best and there is hope he can become a real option for Hansi Flick’s side and overcome a difficult few years.