26th September, 2021
Sunday was a very special day at Camp Nou. Not just because of the win but also because of the triumphal return of Ansu Fati.
Only on from the 79th minute, the 18-year-old dazzled every time he touched the ball and capped it all with a remarkable goal just as the game was heading into injury time. The stadium was on its feet. And rightly so.
It was a goal he made himself, shimmying his way through a Levante defence that didn’t know which way he was going to turn next before he found the position to fire home.
He wanted to celebrate the magical moment with the man who has done so much to get him back where he is today, his doctor Lluís Til.
Watch the remarkable goal below:
The goal came 323 days since he picked an injury on 7 November 2020 against Betis.
Speaking after the match today, Ansu Fati said:
“I did not imagine a return like this. Here you always have to win. I am happy about the victory. I thank the doctors and physios who have been with me. Also to the fans.
“I have thought about helping in the team. I have also thought about my family, who have suffered these months. Also for the people of the club. They have been a great support for me in all these months.
“I am one more. I will try to add what I can. I will try to help the coach and be available to help. It will depend on how I find myself. I will have to earn the minutes. This is very a long process, it has just begun. We are Barça and we have to fight for everything.”
Barcelona lost one man who made the number ten shirt his own for so many years. But now it has a new incumbent.
Expecting Ansu Fati to repeat the kind of legacy that Leo Messi achieved may be asking too much, but after today’s explosive comeback, there is no reason not to believe that somebody else is going to make history wearing the famous shirt.
Speaking on the new responsibility, Fati said:
“For me, the 10 is not a pressure, it is a pride. I thank the club and the captains for giving me the opportunity to wear it. It is not pressure, but gratitude.
“We are Barça, we are going to fight for LaLiga, for the Champions League and for everything. We are Barça and we have to fight and work for that.”