FC Barcelona and their head coach Xavi Hernandez would like to sell Ansu Fati with a buyback option, according to Mundo Deportivo.

It is almost four years ago since the Guinea-born sensation lit up the football world as a teenager, smashing a number of youngest goalscorer records for his current club and in elite competitions such as the Champions League.

The then-16-year-old appeared to be a star of the future, and 2021 saw him awarded a bumper contract with a €1 billion ($1.075 billion) release clause plus Lionel Messi's hallowed number '10' shirt once the Argentine fled to Paris Saint Germain on a free transfer.

Just a couple of seasons later, though, Fati might follow Messi out of the exit door with unfortunate injuries cruelly hampering his progress.

Furthermore, Xavi's switch to what he swears isn't a 4-4-2, yet undoubtedly has room for just one pure winger as Spain teammate occupies his area of the pitch as a false left winger, means that the prodigy is currently surplus to requirements in Catalonia.

Fati's potential sale is an attractive prospect for Barca who are currently trying to shed €200 million ($215 million) from the wage bill and return to the 1:1 rule which allows them to spend an equal amount to what comes in within Financial Fair Play limits.

Unlike others such as positional rival Ferran Torres, with whom Barca would surely make a loss in a transfer considering they paid a puzzling €55 million ($59 million) for him at the turn of 2022, Fati can bring in pure profit for the Blaugrana as a La Masia product.

Barca are struggling to find a buyer for Fati, though, or anyone willing to pay a premium after initial interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers who wanted to hand over €30 million ($32 million) plus Ruben Neves for his services according to SPORT.

Irrespective of how much he is moved on for, though, Xavi believes Fati should leave but not because he does not rate the 20-year-old.

On the contrary according to Mundo Deportivo, the midfield icon is a fan of his fellow academy graduate and has always spoken highly of him in public.

At this moment in time, though, while unable to give him the minutes he wants and needs, Xavi thinks that Fati should be moved on to have more prominence elsewhere but on one condition.

This sees Fati sold but with a buyback option, so that if and when he realizes the potential he so blatantly possessed when breaking out in 2019, Barca can arrange a Prodigal Son-like return for the forward.