He has been in the news since the 2nd week of the 2019/2020 La Liga season, He is the name on the lips of almost every Barcelona, He is also Box2box Next Gen Player of the week, His full name: Anssumane Fati.
Born on the 31st of October, 2002 in Guinea-Bissau, Fati moved to Spain with his family at the age of six, He joined FC Barcelona‘s La Masia academy in 2012, aged ten.
On 24 July 2019, Fati signed his first professional contract with the Catalans agreeing to a deal until 2022 after greatly impressing at Barcelona academy where he had scored 56 goals in 29 league games in his first season with their junior team.
On 25 August, before even appearing with the reserves, he made his first team – and La Liga – debut, coming on as a late substitute for goalscorer Carles Pérez in a 5–2 home win over Real Betis; aged 16 years and 298 days, he became the second-youngest player to debut for the club, only 18 days older than Vicenç Martínez back in 1941.
It was an intriguing day for the youngster as Barcelona had to ask Ansu Fati’s parents’ permission to field him in the match because of La Liga’s restrictions on under age players in night games. He was unlucky not to get a goal in the game as he greatly impressed during his first appearance.
But his fairytale wasn’t going to end there as the teenager scored a historic header soon after his half-time introduction against Osasuna to become the Blaugrana’s youngest ever to score in La Liga in just his second appearance for the club, breaking a record held by Bojan Krkic and which had previously belonged to Lionel Messi.
He also became the 3rd youngest la liga goal scorer behind Michael Olinga and Iker Munain.
He was as shocked as the rest of the footballing world when his header found the back of the net.
For a 16 year old, it was a dream come true after just making his debut the previous week which was emotional enough as Lionel Messi hugged him after the match and his parents cried when they saw him make the debut and then scoring just a week later, that’s something that will talkers about for decades to come.
Naturally a left winger, Ansu Fati likes to take on defenders, cut-in and also shoot. He has been one of the few shining lights in Barcelona‘s dismal start to the season.
He is already being chased by Spain for his international choice and according to some reports, He has already agreed. He is eligible to play for Guinea Bissau and Portugal.
If Ansu Fati continues growing at this rate, Barcelona have more than just a mere superstar in their hands, They have a replacement for Lionel Messi.
So remember the name, ANSSUMANNE FATI.
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