Due to a disagreement with Roberto De Zerbi, Mauricio Pochettino, the outgoing Brighton manager, acquired Ansu Fati last year.
After just one season, Pochettino departed Stamford Bridge following several high-profile signings, such as Moises Caicedo for £100 million and Romeo Lavia for £53 million from Southampton.
One potential transfer for Chelsea that never materialized was for Barcelona’s winger Ansu Fati. De Zerbi ultimately brought the player to Brighton, recognizing him as a top-tier Premier League talent, suggesting that Pochettino had different plans regarding the player’s potential replacement.
According to The Athletic, Pochettino rejected Chelsea’s attempt to sign the 21-year-old Spaniard. Fati opted to join Brighton for the 2023–24 season on a temporary move from Camp Nou.
Fati’s move to Brighton surprised many in the football community given his high profile. The Italian manager, who signed the Spain international for a season, spoke highly of the player.
De Zerbi expressed his excitement, stating, “I’m extremely thrilled; he’s a big player. We needed a key player after losing Enciso. We are fortunate to have many young players with the potential to be elite and will now take on additional responsibilities.
“We cannot afford to make mistakes with these players because football requires this level of skill, and you must handle it in various ways. Managing this talent brings a lot of responsibility as it’s part of our football heritage.”
The 44-year-old continued, “This is how I have always thought. I feel it is my duty to help very talented players become outstanding ones. Football needs exceptional players, but sometimes coaches focus solely on their own performance and career ambitions. I feel a significant responsibility in this regard. I believe our style closely matches his skills and attributes.”
However, Fati’s stint in England was short-lived as he struggled with form and injuries, scoring only four goals in thirty appearances across all competitions. He is expected to return to Barcelona for the upcoming season, where he will likely play under the management of Hansi Flick.
Meanwhile, De Zerbi has emerged as one of the leading candidates to become Chelsea’s new manager, potentially replacing Pochettino. Other contenders include Thomas Frank of Brentford and Enzo Maresca, the current Leicester boss.
