New Life for Barcelona's Prodigy in England
They've seen Fati making his debut for the Catalan club earlier, and it felt like they've found the successor for their Argentinian maestro.
Ansu Fati played similarly as the answer for all the Barca fans.
Two years and a handful of injuries later, Ansu Fati is now loaned out to Brighton.
How did it all go south? And what lessons can we take from the story of Fati apart from football?
We find out.
Move to La Masia
Fati and his family chose Barcelona to be his home for his football career, and under the guidance of his first coach, Marc Serra, Ansu developed a deep respect for his surroundings and opponents. He learned to focus more on scoring goals and less on showboating, instilling a disciplined and dedicated approach to his game.
His journey in Barcelona wasn't without its challenges. When the club received a transfer ban from FIFA in 2014, Ansu couldn't play for six months. At 12 years old, he suffered a significant setback by breaking his tibia and fibula in a youth derby.
Professional Debut
On July 24, 2019, Ansu signed his first professional contract with Barcelona. A month later, at 16 years and 298 days, he debuted for the first team, coming on as a late substitute in a 5-2 home victory against Real Betis.
This was the start, and he continued to make strides by scoring two goals in the 4-0 win against Villareal in the 2020-21 season, impressing the sold-out Barcelona tickets audience.
It felt like they'd found their new prodigy.
On September 20, 2019, he was granted his Spanish citizenship, and on September 3, 2020, he made his full international debut for Spain, coming off the bench in a 1-1 draw with Germany.
It was a dream start for the youngster in Spanish colors. On September 6, 2020, he scored his first international goal against Ukraine, becoming Spain's youngest-ever goal scorer at 17 years and 311 days.
The relationship between Fati and Messi felt like a replication of what Messi had with Ronaldhinio in his early years.
The Decline
On November 20, in a match against Real Betis, Fai tore his meniscus in his left knee. Two days later, he underwent surgery. The club initially announced that he would be out for approximately four months. However, his road to recovery proved much longer and more challenging. In total, he missed 64 games and was sidelined for 305 days.
It was devastating for the fans responsible for the sold-out Barcelona tickets and eager to see the youngster.
On his return, Barcelona was bleeding. To balance their wage bill, they loaned Antonie Breizman, and it was then that Barceola would present Fati with the iconic number 10 jersey, previously worn by Messi.
The weight of this emblematic shirt, which was previously graced by legends like Ronaldinho, Romario, Rivaldo, Riquelme, Lineker, and Maradona, was now carried by an 18-year-old who had experienced an 18-month hiatus from play due to repeated knee surgeries – four in the last ten months. It's no small feat.
His return was promising as he scored Barcelona's 3rd goal against Levante in the opening phases of the season.
But injuries came along once again. From November until the end of April, he missed an additional 33 games. The club had high expectations for his goal-scoring prowess, but his young body needed help to cope with the demands.
The club recommended surgery to address his ongoing problems, but Ansu Fati chose a more conservative approach, which, 18 months later, has proven to be the right decision.
Right now, being fit, Ansu Fati doesn't feature in the Barcelona Manager's plans. While he was a part of the squad in 37 games out of the 38 games in last year's league tournament, he was only named in a starting lineup 11 times.
He was the club's second-top scorer, but Xavi doesn't consider him a prospect.
His playing time during the first month of the current season was limited to just 47 minutes across three substitute appearances.
While the fans believe that Fati deserves time on the Barcelona side, it is also up to the manager to decide where he fits in. When Barcelona looks to defend its title, the team will always focus on the result to steer the club out of its misery.
The fans who now fill the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys with sold-out Barcelona tickets also believe in the same principle.
Loan to Brighton
Regardless of countless offers, Fati has proved his loyalty to Barcelona. Barcelona was not just a team to him; it was his lifelong passion and aspiration. Ideally, he would have loved to continue his career at Barcelona, but circumstances led him to consider a temporary move to rediscover his best form.
Tottenham was at the forefront of signing the youngster. Ansu had a lengthy conversation with Tottenham's manager, Ange Postecoglou. However, the persuasive abilities of Brighton's coach, Roberto de Zerbi, swayed Ansu Fati to join the south coast of England.
There has been a powerful connection between Ansu and De Zebri. Ansu appreciated that De Zerbi took the time to express his belief in him and considered him an integral part of his plans. De Zerbi's unwavering commitment to the idea was that while form can be temporary, class and talent are enduring qualities, inspired Ansu.
These words gave the youngster the confidence that Brighton would support his return to the top level of play if he had his fitness and focus level intact.
Ansu's decision was also influenced by Brighton's playing style, the attraction of the Premier League, and the opportunity to showcase his skills in European competition.
His confidence was further bolstered when he scored his first goal for Brighton, even though it came as a consolation in a 6-1 defeat to Aston Villa.
For Barcelona fans who will follow Ansu, the move to Brighton comes with no purchase option, which means that he still has an opportunity to return to Barcelona and have a future in the club he treasures.