Man Utd asked agent Mendes about second transfer while completing Ronaldo deal

Manchester United made enquiries about Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati while in talks with super agent Jorge Mendes over Cristiano Ronaldo 's homecoming, it has been reported.

United were rumoured to be interested in the young Spanish star Fati, and asked about his availability.

This comes as Fati enters the final year of his contract at the Camp Nou.

In recent years Barcelona have lost a number of young stars, including most recently Ilaix Moriba to RB Leipzig after contract negotiations broke down.

Reports from Mundo Deportivo suggest the young attacker was attracted to the idea but Barcelona had no intention of selling the teenager.

Ronald Koeman wants the likes of Philippe Coutinho and young sensation Ansu Fati to help replace the 30 goals Lionel Messi scored last season

United had set their sights on bringing in another forward before the recent window closed.

However, despite United's desire to snap up the Spanish youngster, his £357million release clause and Barcelona's refusal to sell, for now, makes it impossible.

In a bid to ward off any future interest, instead of activating the optional two-year extension, the La Liga giants have proposed a new contract to reflect Fati's new role in the Barcelona squad.

The 18-year-old's future is still undecided and it is believed that Mendes offered him to a host of top clubs around Europe including both Manchester City.

Despite only recently returning from injury, Fati has attracted understandable interest and recently taken over the No.10 shirt after Lionel Messi's departure.

Any deal for United was always going to be difficult because the La Masia graduate is seen as the future of Barcelona.

In the vacuum left by Messi's departure and Antoine Griezmann's return to Atletico Madrid, Barcelona may come to rely on the tricky youngster.

Barcelona's weakness upfront without him on the pitch was demonstrated in their 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich.

Mendes and Ronaldo have a good relationship ( Image:

REUTERS)

They struggled so much they were pushing midfielder Frenkie de Jong, more used to dropping between the centre backs to build up play, into the box to get on the end of crosses.

Fati made his debut in the Barcelona first team aged just 16, and scored seven goals in his next 24 La Liga games during his first season.

He also became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Champions League shortly after making his Barcelona debut in 2019, netting against Inter Milan.

After a serious knee injury suffered last November, Fati is finally expected to return to action in November after almost a year out.

Whilst his current club, Barcelona, were dominated by Bayern Munich in a 3-0 victory for the Germans, United also lost in a shock 2-1 defeat to BSC Young Boys.

United lost with 10 men when Aaron Wan-Bissaka was sent off after Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring in Switzerland.

This continues Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's poor record in the Champions League leaving his side with plenty of work to do to reach the Champions League knockout stages.