AS Monaco’s summer project wasn’t just about spending money — it was about recovering prestige, rebuilding reputations and reviving careers that seemed to be drifting away. Their biggest gambles were Paul Pogba and Ansu Fati. Pogba has yet to debut due to physical issues. And Ansu — who arrived in search of a fresh start away from the chaos and expectations of FC Barcelona — began brightly… but now finds himself sliding into an unexpected early winter.

What started as a perfect scenario for a footballing resurrection is turning into an emotional, tactical and competitive challenge. The Mediterranean warmth around Ansu is cooling down, just when he most needed stability.

A Promising Beginning Under Adi Hütter

Manager Adi Hütter, fully aware of the suffocating media pressure Ansu endured in Barcelona, convinced him with a message almost paternal in tone:

“Come here, even if you do nothing for five games… it’s fine.”

That phrase captured Hütter’s philosophy perfectly: space, calm, and zero pressure.

The loan between Barcelona and Monaco, agreed early in the window, took longer than expected to materialize on the field. Throughout preseason, Hütter constantly reminded everyone that Ansu needed careful handling, prioritizing a slow and safe integration.

When he finally debuted in the Champions League against Club Brugge, it was a tough night for Monaco — but Ansu delivered the only spark, scoring late and showing that special touch he’s always had.

Soon after, in Ligue 1, he came off the bench against Metz and scored twice within seconds. This was the happy Ansu — instinctive, lethal, liberated. In just five matches he reached six goals, numbers he hadn’t touched in a long time.

Hütter placed him in a perfect role: left-sided second striker in his 1-3-4-2-1, not a fixed reference but free to drift, break lines and attack space. It finally looked like Ansu was rediscovering himself.

The Firing That Froze Everything

Then everything shifted instantly. After a draw against Nice on Matchday 7 — a game in which he scored twice from the penalty spot — Hütter was sacked. And with him, the coach who understood Ansu best disappeared.

Sébastien Pocognoli took over, a former Brighton figure like Ansu. Under him, the Spaniard started matches against Angers, Tottenham and Toulouse. But an emotional reaction after being substituted in London became a turning point.

Pocognoli publicly downplayed the incident, but behind the scenes, Ansu stopped being essential.

A huge missed chance against Toulouse further eroded his standing. In Monaco’s last two matches — versus Nantes and Paris FC — he started on the bench and failed to reach even 45 minutes of action.

What Comes Next for Him?

Pocognoli summarized it with blunt honesty:

“I want to see him over 30 straight games before drawing conclusions. When he’s healthy, he can change matches.”

But the problem is that Ansu couldn’t even travel to the Conference League game vs. Bodø/Glimt due to illness.
So the waiting continues. And the freezing, too.

Ansu arrived in Monaco searching for sunlight, calm, and minutes. Today he has shadows, doubts, and a winter that keeps stretching. And until his best version returns, the Principality will remain waiting for the thaw — but it definitely won’t come from the Arctic Circle.