The boy who gave Barcelona hope

When Ansu Fati made his debut for FC Barcelona in 2019, at just 16 years, 9 months, and 25 days old, he looked destined for greatness. A product of La Masía, he was seen as the heir to fill the void Lionel Messi would eventually leave. His flair, fearlessness, and goal-scoring instinct instantly made him the jewel Barcelona fans had been waiting for.

The club quickly secured him with a €400 million release clause in 2019, and by 2021 it was raised to €1 billion—right after he inherited Messi’s legendary No. 10 shirt following the Argentine’s move to PSG. What seemed like the start of a golden era soon turned into a nightmare.

The nightmare of injuries

In November 2020, Ansu suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee, an injury that required four surgeries and kept him sidelined for nearly a year. That was only the beginning of a downward spiral that pulled him away from the glorious path many thought was his destiny.

When he returned, he was no longer the same. His physical condition lagged, his confidence dipped, and under Xavi Hernández, he slipped from the bench to the stands. Eventually, Barcelona loaned him to Brighton in the Premier League, but the spark never came back.

Brighton struggles and a gray return to Barça

With the Seagulls, Ansu made 30 appearances across all competitions, but managed just 4 goals and 1 assist. His underwhelming stint brought him back to Barcelona carrying more doubts than answers.

Under Hansi Flick, things worsened: only 11 games played, totaling 298 minutes. A far cry from the expectations set for the player once seen as the face of Barça’s future.

A new light in Monaco

Just when his career seemed to fade, AS Monaco opened a new door. His move in the latest transfer window has breathed fresh life into his journey. Though he took time to make his debut, he made an immediate impact: scoring in his Champions League debut against Club Brugge, and just three days later, netting a brace in his Ligue 1 debut versus Metz.

Football always offers second chances, and Ansu’s might finally have arrived. It’s too early to declare a full comeback, but the signs are promising. The football world would welcome the return of a player once hailed as Messi’s heir—one who still has the potential to shine just as brightly as promised from the very start.