According to L'Équipe, Monaco are ready to trigger the €11 million purchase option written into Fati's loan agreement with Barcelona. The stumbling block is the player's wage, reported to be €250,000 net per month — a figure that sits outside Monaco's financial framework.
Negotiations over a reduced salary are expected, with Monaco hoping Fati will accept lower terms to make the permanent move viable.
Fati has justified Monaco's interest with his performances. He has scored eight goals in 20 Ligue 1 appearances this season, making him the club's second-highest scorer in the league behind Folarin Balogun. Only injury absences have prevented him from contributing even more, with nine goals in all competitions from under 1,000 minutes of play.
The journey to this point has been a long one for a player who burst onto the scene at Barcelona as a teenager before a serious knee injury halted his development. He spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Brighton, managed just six appearances for Barcelona last campaign, and arrived at Monaco last summer with his career at a crossroads.
Barcelona hold no buy-back clause but will retain a significant percentage of any future sale. For the Catalan club, a permanent exit serves their own financial interests — Fati's departure frees up considerable wage space that has become increasingly important as they navigate financial fair play restrictions. His contract with Barcelona runs until 2028.
Monaco sit fifth in Ligue 1 with seven rounds remaining, still in contention for Champions League qualification. A final decision on Fati's future is expected before the end of the season.
At €11 million, the fee is a formality. It is the wages that will decide everything.