The painful days of Ansu Fati

Fati's career is fading.

In 2019, the entire Camp Nou stood up in amazement when a 16-year-old boy, with a face still young, scored his first goal in the “Blaugrana” shirt. That was the moment Ansu Fati entered Barcelona history, becoming the youngest player to score for the Catalan team in the 21st century. Barcelona had found “Messi’s successor” – at least, that’s what people thought.

Harsh reality

But modern football is no fairy tale. Five years on, Fati is struggling to find himself again. From La Masia's brightest star to a puzzle, Barcelona are facing the harsh reality of developing young talent.

The nightmare began in November 2020. A ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in the knee - a nightmare injury for any footballer. In an instant, the trajectory of his career changed completely. Then came the dark days: four surgeries, months of recovery, and worst of all, the impatience of an organization notorious for its pressure to win.

Barcelona’s handling of Fati’s recovery raises many questions. Did the medical team really understand his condition? Did the financial pressure and expectations push both the club and the player to take shortcuts? Seeing how Barcelona squeezed Pedri to the point where he collapsed from overwork, fans cannot help but question the club’s ability to manage young talent.

Fati will find it difficult to stay at Barcelona after the 2024/25 season ends.

The 2023/24 season was supposed to be a chance for Fati to re-emerge. Instead of competing fiercely at the Camp Nou, he was loaned out to Brighton – a less pressurised environment under Roberto De Zerbi. The result? 19 games, 2 goals, and vague reviews. Not bad enough to warrant criticism, but not good enough to warrant a return.

In the winter, when the opportunity to move to Real Sociedad arose, Fati decided to stay at Brighton. It was a morally respectable decision but a strategically ill-considered one. At 21, each season without regular playing time meant losing an already slim chance of development.

Now, back at Barcelona under Hansi Flick, Fati faces an almost impenetrable wall. Robert Lewandowski remains the first choice striker. The left flank is dominated by Raphinha and Ferran Torres. Even Lamine Yamal - a younger, fitter version of Fati himself - has taken up the right flank. Where is Fati's place?

Jorge Mendes, the most powerful agent in football, is looking for a way out for his client. It’s not just an agent’s job, it’s also an attempt to salvage a fading talent. At 21, Fati still has his whole career ahead of him, but every season that passes in vain is a season wasted.

Expensive lesson for Barcelona

Barcelona also need to be honest with themselves. Keeping Fati is no longer a humanitarian or strategic act, but a waste of resources and time for both parties. With a high salary in a tense financial context, Fati has become a burden that the team cannot bear for long.

Ansu Fati was once the embodiment of La Masia - the most prestigious youth academy in the world .

Looking back, fans can't help but feel sorry for a talent who was once expected to become a new symbol of Barcelona. 8 goals in his first season, the record of the youngest player to score in the Champions League, and technical moves that made viewers ecstatic. Ansu Fati was once the embodiment of La Masia - the most prestigious youth academy in the world. But when injuries struck, Barcelona had no backup plan, no long-term development plan, and most importantly, no patience.

Fati's story is a warning to every team about how to develop young talent. Talent needs to be nurtured with patience, protected with a scientific plan, and matured through challenges that are within their capabilities. Barcelona failed not only with Fati but also with many other talents when they placed too much expectation too early, then quickly gave up when difficulties appeared.

Now, when the applause at Montjuïc is likely to be paid to Fati for the last time, it will not only be a sad farewell but also a reminder that talent is nothing if not managed properly. Barcelona must look at this failure to reform their talent development policy, not only to avoid a repeat of the Ansu Fati tragedy, but also to protect the future of Lamine Yamal, Gavi or Cubarsi.

Ansu Fati - from prodigy to burden - is an expensive lesson for Barcelona. The question now is: Are they wise enough to learn from it?

Source: https://znews.vn/nhung-ngay-dau-kho-cua-ansu-fati-post1553833.html