General panic at Barça | OneFootball

High tension at Barça

General panic at Barça

Arriving at Monaco with the clear ambition to reignite a career hampered by injuries, Ansu Fati made a thunderous start: five matches, six goals, a renewed influence, and a captivated crowd. Adi Hütter handed him a central role, and the Spanish winger finally seemed to reappear with the explosive form that had dazzled La Masia. But the arrival of Sébastien Pocognoli on the bench completely changed the dynamic. Since October, Ansu Fati has gradually faded, slipping from an indisputable starter to an occasional substitute. His last three Ligue 1 appearances—55 minutes combined against Nantes, Paris FC, and Lens—symbolize this sudden and brutal fall in the pecking order.

In Barcelona, concern is mounting. Loaned with a €11 million purchase option and a highly valued resale clause, Fati was expected to increase his market value before making a permanent exit from Catalonia. His disappearance from the spotlight now makes that scenario much more uncertain.

Pocognoli faces another major headache

The new Monaco coach, already dealing with the delicate Paul Pogba situation—still absent despite encouraging signs in recent weeks—must now tackle another major challenge: an Ansu Fati completely adrift. The 23-year-old, who extended his Barça contract until 2028 before heading to the Principality, had hoped his loan spell would be the springboard for a renaissance. After a dazzling start—scoring against Bruges, Metz, Nice, and Lorient—the momentum was abruptly broken.

In Spain, the media no longer hides its surprise: the player who had rediscovered the spark of his early Barça days has now slipped back into the shadows. And in Barcelona, the prospect of a long-anticipated sale grows more complicated by the day.