‘A wasted year’ – Barcelona outcast’s camp extremely frustrated with lack of opportunities | OneFootball

One of the biggest disappointments this season for Barcelona has been Ansu Fati. While Hansi Flick has managed to elevate the performances of most of the squad, the La Masia graduate has been left behind.

Having returned after a disappointing loan stint at Brighton & Hove Albion, Fati was given a chance by Flick to prove himself in pre-season.

However, a foot injury derailed those plans and while Flick did not give up on him, the forward has just been unable to make a mark after suffering another muscle problem.

Fati’s camp unhappy

Come April 4, Ansu will have gone three months without playing a single minute for Barcelona. It is a tough situation – one that his camp is far from happy about, according to SPORT.

Flick has been honest about the situation of the forward, both in private and in public, having made it abundantly clear that he needed to improve in training.

It must be remembered that both the club and the coach were open to letting him leave on loan in January. But Ansu chose to stay, despite loan offers, hoping to reclaim his spot.

For the past three months, Ansu has been giving it his all. He has been training well, making the squad for some games, but Flick has not given him minutes.

Not in Flick’s plans. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The competition in attack is fierce, and Ansu sits at the bottom of the pecking order. And unless Barça secure the La Liga title early, his chances of featuring again are slim.

Meanwhile, his entourage insists that Ansu is fully fit and ready to contribute. They feel frustrated because he was given so much encouragement earlier in the season, only to be left out entirely. The consensus is that this season has been ‘a wasted year’ in his career.

What next for Ansu?

Given his situation, a summer exit for Ansu looks inevitable at this point, with Barcelona weighing a permanent transfer or another loan.

One possibility being looked into is extending the No. 10’s contract, currently running until 2027, to distribute his salary over a longer period which would help Barça Fair Play-wise, while also making his loan exit easier.

Clubs in Spain and Italy are still interested in taking a chance on the youngster, while teams in the Middle East could offer more financial stability.

The final decision will be left to Ansu. If he wants to stay in Europe, he might need to accept a lower salary. If he opts for a big-money move elsewhere, his departure could be permanent.