Brighton appear to have convinced Ansu Fati to join them after fending off hijack attempt from Sevilla... with Seagulls' soaring reputation in Europe helping them seal sensational loan swoop for Barcelona starlet
Sevilla had hoped to hijack the move, and were able to offer Champions League football and of course a familiar environment in LaLiga.
Brighton were closing in on the loan signing of Fati on Wednesday night, and it now appears that there is no sign of the deal being derailed.
Fati is said to have been convinced by Brighton's playing style and the coaching of Roberto De Zerbi. Brighton now have a huge reputation in Europe as a club that nurtures talent and De Zerbi is massively respected.
In March Fati's father Bori hit out at Fati's lack of playing time for Barcelona and encouraged his son to leave.
Bori admitted he 'often thinks of Sevilla', where the family moved to from Guinea-Bissau.
'I think a lot about Sevilla, about going home,' Bori said. 'Right now I wouldn't value an offer from Madrid, because Ansu wouldn't accept it. I can't put Ansu where he doesn't want to.
'But I will never speak ill of Madrid because they are two clubs very big and you never know what the world is going to bring you.
'You never know where it is going to take you.'
Fati burst onto the scene for Barcelona in 2019 as a 16-year-old and became the youngest player in LaLiga history to score and assist in the same match when he did so against Valencia.
In November 2020 Fati suffered a serious knee injury that kept him out for nine months.
Fati has found it difficult to establish himself in the Barcelona starting lineup under Xavi and has featured as a substitute in all three of his team's LaLiga games so far this season.