Former La Masia talent backs Barcelona outcast to turn things around – ‘Has tremendous quality’ | OneFootball

A decade ago, the best of the best football players in the world nestled in Europe and South America.

The demographic, however, has changed in recent years with leagues coming up and astronomically growing in the Middle East and the United States.

While it all began with players at the fag end of their career moving to the lesser-known leagues, they have now begun targeting younger players.

One of the first to make such a move was Celta Vigo’s young Gabri Veiga and Barca Atletic star Unai Hernandez is one of the latest.

Former Real Betis star Rodri Sanchez is one such player as well who, in fact, has roots in the Barcelona academy.

Ansu backed to succeed by former La Masia talent

Speaking to the media earlier this week, the former Real Betis star and current Al Arabi player spoke about a potential return to Barcelona and Ansu Fati who he trained alongside during his youth days at La Masia.

Sanchez was asked to give his two cents on Ansu Fati, a player he knows well from his days in La Masia, especially given the player’s struggles in Catalonia.

“Ansu is a very young boy who has had a couple of serious injuries and bad luck post-surgery,” he began.

Rodri Sanchez trained at La Masia. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

He then went on to praise the Barcelona youngster for his quality and how it was vital that he regained his confidence.

“He has tremendous quality and an ease of facing the goal, but after the injuries, it is very difficult to regain that confidence. Even more so if you do not have enough minutes to prove your worth.”

Finally, he expressed optimism over Fati finding his feet again, sooner rather than later, but insisted that it would be difficult at a club with the competition that Barcelona has.

“Ansu is a great person and a great player who, surely, will perform again at a great level, even if it is very complicated by the competition that there is in the club and the few minutes he has had to date.”

On a future return to Spain

Rodri also touched upon whether a move back to La Liga and Barcelona was on the cards, especially given how he has settled well in the Middle East.

“I’m proud that a team like FC Barcelona is interested in me, but what really matters to me is that my new club was the one that bet the most on me this summer.”

“And now I just want to defend this shirt and give the best of myself to continue improving,” he added on his future.

Source: SPORT