Barcelona youngster Ansu Fati has been a prolific discovery from the academy since he debuted for the first team. Due to back-to-back significant injury concerns that took him off the field for an extended time, Ansu Fati has had to deal with a challenging couple of seasons. Fati sustained a catastrophic knee injury in 2020 that kept him out of action until the end of the previous year. After that, he missed most of the last season due to a persistent hamstring issue while FC Barcelona suffered on the pitch.
While he has returned to the pitch this season, Xavi has maintained caution while letting him play. While playing, Ansu looks like a shadow of his former self. His instinct is still quite evident; he seems to be playing with a safe bet. It is only humane that the horrific injury might have had its toil over Ansu’s physical and mental state. A recent story from SPORT sheds light on Fati’s predicament. The teenage prodigy allegedly has most of his physical characteristics at or near their pre-injury levels. However, the La Masia ace has a slight speed deficit. According to the article, the 19-year-old tries to avoid going up against defenders one-on-one since it puts much strain on the muscles, and the rhythm and energy needed for that are still lacking.
Barcelona prodigy believes he is more suited to play as the target man
Furthermore, the same report asserted that Fati would choose to play through the middle as a No. 9 at this time rather than a left winger because it would require less physical effort from him. The kid also thinks his abilities within the box will enable him to contribute to the team.
If Fati decides to play in the number 9 position, he can surely help the team. He is good at dropping deep to receive the ball and link up the play. His instinct to identify as well as to make space for his teammates is an invaluable quality. However, at the moment, Barcelona does have Lewandowski and Memphis Depay for that position.
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