In the summer of 2021, Ansu Fati Vieira inherited the iconic No. 10 jersey from Lionel Messi. He was just 18 years old and was still nursing a long-term injury, but the club hierarchy felt he was ready. It would prove a poisoned chalice. Upon his return, the Spaniard made a handful of substitute appearances before returning to the treatment table. His luck didn’t improve when he was dispatched to Brighton Hove & Albion on loan. Will Ansu Fati be able to live up to expectations?
Messi’s Heir apparent
🔵🔴✨ Hansi Flick: “Ansu Fati has now improved a lot and training at a much higher level”. pic.twitter.com/9LffoLVxby
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 11, 2025
By the time he returned to Camp Nou, Ansu Fati had fallen further down the pecking order. The likes of Ferran Torres, Raphina, and Lamine Yamal had practically locked him out of the starting 11. The man once considered to be Messi’s heir apparent was reduced to sub appearances in dead-rubber games. At just 22 years of age, Ansu Fati is now seen as Barça’s forgotten man. Anyone who knows his story is surprised he’s still a Blaugrana player.
But now Head Coach Hansi Flick has breathed some life into the embers of Fati’s career. That is according to renowned soccer journalist Fabrizio Romano. Anyone reading that tweet would think the injury-prone forward was on the verge of returning to first-team soccer.
I wouldn’t be so fast to conclude that considering he’d first have to displace the red-hot Lamine Yamal. Dani Olmo, who is two weeks away from returning from an injury-enforced absence, has a better chance. Flick’s choice of words also paints a picture of a player still far removed from the Barça boss’s immediate plans.
Ansu Fati To Saudi?
What is more likely is that the club is marketing Fati to potential buyers. There are rumors that Al Nassr is hoping to add him to their attacking line. Scouts from the Saudi Pro League side were reportedly in attendance during the Blaugrana’s 4-0 demolition of Dortmund on Wednesday. If they were there to see Ansu Fati, were his eight minutes of action enough to analyze his qualities comprehensively?
Shifting the 22-year-old would be a welcome prospect for FC Barcelona. It would help them slash their wage bill while bagging an estimated $72 million in transfer fees. Playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo is every young soccer player’s dream. That should be enough to convince Ansu Fati if a fat paycheck proves inadequate.
The Old Lady Calls
If Fati would rather remain in Europe, there are still a few elite clubs interested in his signature. Juventus is said to be eager to snap up the Barcelona reject. Apparently, they’ve been pursuing him for a while. This prospect would be more appealing to Fati as it’s the best route for him to regain his place in the Spanish national team. If they can keep him fit, Juve will have added a young, highly talented winger to their roster with bags of experience. A welcome win-win scenario for both parties.
