Ansu Fati's father Bori Fati has slammed FC Barcelona in an explosive interview on Spanish radio, revealing that he has encouraged his son to leave the club.
Fati broke through to the Barca first team as a 16-year-old in 2019 and smashed a number of youngest appearance maker and goalscorer records.
Injuries have blighted his progress post-pandemic, however, and the youngster currently struggles for a place in head coach Xavi Hernandez's first XI as the Catalans top La Liga by 12 points.
Amid rumors of a sale in the summer, MARCA reported on Monday that Bori Fati had met with the club which told him that the now-20-year-old will not be moved on.
On the El Partidazo de COPE program on Spanish radio on Tuesday night, however, Bori Fati laid into the Catalans and claimed that he has told the left winger to continue his club career elsewhere.
Bori Fati said that he was happy with how is son is working, reminding the world of how Ansu has "been in the elite for four years now" and attesting that the Guinea-born sensation is "super well", physically speaking.
Perhaps because of these factors, Bori Fati said that "it bothers me how they are treating Ansu".
"They give him one, two and three minutes [at the end of games]. I am very disappointed, Ansu deserved much more," Bori Fati added.
"Why doesn't Xavi play him more?" Bori Fati asked. "I don't have an answer. We're talking about the number 10 of Barca."
Bori Fati wanted to clarify that Ansu is "not upset with Xavi", who he idolises, but stressed that he is angry as a father and "very sad" - which has prompted him not to go the stadium and see Barca in action anymore.
"Xavi is a good guy," Bori Fati said. "He spoke to me two to three times and he's very nice. He gave him specific work, and it has helped him a lot. I'm angry, it's true. As a father, I see Ansu [playing] for a short time and it p*sses me off but I think as a father, not as a coach."
Confirming MARCA's report, Bori Fati said that the club wants to keep Ansu but his agent Jorge Mendes has offers to take him away from Catalonia.
"I have told Ansu that it is better for him to have a change of scenery," Bori Fati said. "[But] Ansu does not agree with me. He wants to stay and succeed at FC Barcelona."
Saying that he will meet Mendes in a month and that he wants his son "to triumph", Bori Fati risked enraging Barca fans by not ruling out a move to bitter rivals Real Madrid.
"I'm not going to criticize Real Madrid because life takes many turns and you never know what can happen," said Bori, who chided his son for being "asleep" and not listening to him because of the size of Barca as a club.
While Barca might be pleased by some of the comments which have Bori Fati alleging that his son wants to stay and make a go of things at Camp Nou, others blasting Xavi and discussing arch enemies Madrid might go down like a lead balloon.