Ansu Fati has been starved of playing time this season under Hansi Flick. The 22-year-old is yet to score for Barcelona after receiving just 187 minutes in La Liga. The youngster was frustrated and slapped a chair when Hansi Flick didn’t bring him on vs Celta Vigo, even after telling him to warm up. However, a busy game schedule and Hansi Flick’s building trust in Ansu Fati after seeing him in training rewarded him with a start vs Mallorca.
A promising performance
After being included in the starting lineup, Ansu Fati displayed a promising performance against Mallorca. Ansu created 3 chances for his teammates while taking 4 shots at the goal. Unkuckily, the youngster didn’t score but looked close to breaking the deadlock. On the left flank, Ansu Fati was combining with Hector Fort, another La Masia alumnus. Hector also seemed frustrated after not getting minutes vs Celta Vigo. These combinations with Hector Fort and Pedri created a lot of chances to progress the ball and create attacks.
Adding quality to squad depth
Ansu Fati’s appearance allowed crucial players like Raphinha to rest ahead of important games like the Copa del Rey final and the UCL semifinal. Jules Kounde finally ended his streak of 104 consecutive games played. Hansi Flick’s playing style requires a lot of running and intensity to win the ball back. So, ensuring the main players can give their 100% is really important. Ansu Fati is expected to feature in the game vs Valladolid, which is between the two legs vs Inter. The youngster can also make appearances in other matches due to Robert Lewandowski’s injury.
Ansu Fati’s future at the club
According to a report by Mundo Deportivo, a meeting is scheduled between Ansu Fati’s agent, Jorge Mendes, and Barcelona’s board to discuss his future. Although the general consensus among the fans is that Ansu Fati will leave by the end of the season, it might not be the worst option to keep him. In my opinion, Hansi Flick can revive his career and bring him back to his very best. The fans should also not forget that Ansu is still just 22 years old and has much potential to be a world-class player. As you can see in the video, Ansu was once a player with as much promise as Lamine Yamal, and I believe he can revive that.