Ansu Fati was mobbed by his FC Barcelona teammates after scoring a screamer against AC Milan.
Ansu Fati opened FC Barcelona’s account in a Las Vegas friendly against AC Milan on Tuesday with an edge-of-the-box screamer that led fans to believe the former child prodigy is “back”.
Fati suffered a rough season in 2022/2023. Despite winning his first La Liga title in four years, he was used sparingly by Xavi Hernandez in a four-man midfield system that often saw Gavi deployed in his position as a false left winger.
With the Catalans cash-strapped and struggling to register new signings plus the contracts of existing stars under Financial Fair Play limits, Fati was deemed surplus to requirements and put on the transfer market.
Thus far, however, there has been nobody come forward to buy the 20-year-old, or offer anything close to what Barca expect to receive for their La Masia graduate, who in 2019 broke a number of youngest appearance maker and goalscorer records aged just 16.
The development has led to Fati heading to the U.S. for the Blaugrana’s preseason tour where he has been used sparingly thus far.
For the fourth and final fixture after the first was canceled because of a virus outbreak, however, Fati was brought on at half time for Ez Abde and immediately made an impact.
As Alejandro Balde charged forward and made space for him, he laid the ball off for Fati who had to cut inside with the outside of his foot.
From the edge of the box, the Guinea-born sensation let rip with a rocket that flew into Mike Maignan’s top corner, which the Frenchman had no chance with on 54 minutes.
Fati ran over to a hooded Ousmane Dembele, on the verge of joining Paris Saint-Germain, Franck Kessie and Gavi to celebrate his feat.
And on Twitter, there were conclusions that Fati is “back” and on the cusp of having his best campaign yet after several false starts thanks to debilitating injuries.
After putting his team 1-0 up against last season’s Champions League semi-finalists, he looked dangerous with a spring in his step.
Returning home to Catalonia alongside his teammates tomorrow, he should play a part in the Joan Gamper Trophy on Wednesday next week against Tottenham Hotspur.