Ansu Fati talks Lamine, Messi, Raphinha, Barcelona debut, injuries, World Cup, future | OneFootball

For a long time, there was a lingering hope that Ansu Fati would find his footing once more and return to Barcelona as the player he was always seen to be poised to become.

His progress on loan, however, has not been as promising as Barcelona would have hoped and it is clear that he has not done enough to earn a move back home.

If recent reports are to be believed, however, he has done enough to earn a permanent move to Monaco.

Fati speaks out

As part of a recent interview with MARCA, the former Barcelona star was asked about his future beyond this season and whether he thought of Monaco exercising their purchase clause.

“Now I’m happy in Monaco. When the season ends, I will talk to whoever has to do it to decide.”

He then elaborated on Barcelona’s administrators maintaining contact with him and checking on his development.

“Bojan writes to me a lot to see how I am. I maintain a relationship with people from the club with whom I lived daily. I talk a lot with club workers.”

On his debut with Barcelona

The player then took a trip down memory lane and was asked to speak about his debut week with Barcelona.

“That week was crazy. Days before I was in the youth and I went up very quickly to the first team.”

“I enjoyed it like a child; well, like the child he was. Very happy, and I will always remember it because it was a very exciting moment for my family and friends.”

He was then asked how the dressing room supported him at the time, despite him being just a teenager.

“At that time I was the youngest on the team. Everyone pushed me to have a good time and enjoy that moment.”

“They helped me a lot and reassured me, telling me that if I failed, not to worry and to keep trying,” he added.

Set to move to Monaco permanently. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Specifying the players who helped him the most at that high-pressure moment, Fati named some of the biggest legends in the club’s history as those who had his back.

“Everyone helped me, and especially Leo. I was a boy who went up to the first team and he had already been through that. He told me ‘Calm down, this is just football, try to have a good time and things will work out for you.'”

“Everyone tried to support me; I remember Rakitic and Semedo, but in general they were all. I noticed that they had a special affection for being the youngest. With Busquets I had many conversations, also with Leo, Piqué,” he added.

Speaking on how it felt to share the dressing room with so many legends, the La Masia graduate said,

“I greeted everyone and then stayed in my place to calm down. From there I just wanted to jump into the field to get rid of my nerves, because that was where I could vent.”

“Having them all by my side was too much. I remember that they tried to talk to me because I was very shy, and that was the key for me to integrate very well into the group,” he added.

Finally, he spoke on his injury struggles at Barcelona and whether he regretted facing such a setback when his career was peaking.

“It’s football and injuries are part of it. No one wants to get hurt. In my case, I already have quite a few, but I’m still working to be available as much as possible.”

“I will continue to do so until a season arrives in which I free myself from everything, because I have seen many examples of players to whom it has happened and there comes a time when it ends. I work to be at the highest level,” he added.

On his contact with his old friends

Fati then revealed the players he was still in contact with from Barcelona and how he shared a close bond with them.

“With many, especially with Balde, Araujo, Gavi, and Lamine. We talk about everything and, when I go to Barcelona, we get together and chat.”

The youngster then revealed that he even spoke to Alejandro Balde recently about the upcoming Clasico.

“Yes, I was just talking to Balde before. It will be a very exciting match, like all the Clasicos, and more if they can be proclaimed champions.”

He then wound up the topic by sharing his thoughts on the upcoming Clasico.

“It’s like that, but it will be difficult because Real Madrid knows that if they lose, Barça win La Liga. It will be a very fun Clasico.”

On Yamal and the World Cup

Ansu hopes to see Lamine fit and firing at World Cup. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The final section of his interview saw Fati open up on Lamine Yamal and address comparisons with Lionel Messi.

“Every player is different. Leo has made his story. Lamine is starting his journey, although he has already done a lot. There is no need to compare.”

When asked about Yamal’s untimely setback just before the World Cup, the player said,

“Injuries are part of football. I hope he arrives well and fresh at the World Cup, and can give Spain joy, as he already did in the Euro Cup.”

He was then asked what he saw in Lamine and Spain’s chances to be in the World Cup, to which he said,

“I hope they are champions. It will be very difficult because there are no favourites: everyone competes to the maximum.”

“Lamine already showed it in the Euro Cup and in the Nations League. If he arrives fresh, he will be different,” he added.

Finally, he gave a similar verdict on Raphinha and Brazil, saying,

“He is injured, but knowing him he will be working like crazy to get well to the World Cup. Brazil has a lot of pressure to win, and that can sometimes play against them, but they have the equipment to be up.”