A couple of years back, most people saw Ansu Fati as the future of Barcelona.
He came through La Masia, and right after Messi left, he was given the number 10 shirt big responsibility for a teenager. For a while, it actually felt like he was going to be the one to take the team forward.
But things haven’t stayed that way.
Now he’s 22 and starting over in France with Monaco. No more big expectations, no one calling him the “next Messi” anymore. He’s just trying to get his football back on track and enjoy playing again.
“I’ll always be grateful to Barça,” he said when Monaco introduced him. “But honestly, I feel like this change is good for me.”
This isn’t just a regular loan move. For Ansu, it’s a way to reset everything not just his football career, but his mindset too.
How It All Went Off Track
Ansu played his first game for Barcelona in 2019, and honestly, it was clear right awaythis kid was different. Just 16, but he didn’t play like it.
He had confidence, speed, wasn’t afraid of anything. He threw himself into matches and looked like he belonged. Started scoring, broke records, he made it look easy.
Then in late 2020, things started falling apart. He picked up a knee injury against Betis, and yeah it was worse than people first thought.
He needed surgery and ended up being out for several months. It was a though time that really set him back. And when he finally came back, something just felt off he wasn’t quite the same player.
He’d lost some of that burst. The confidence wasn’t all there. And in the middle of all that, Barcelona were changing fast. Messi was gone, the club was rebuilding, and new players were stepping in Raphinha arrived.
Then a young talent like Lamine Yamal started shining. Ansu found himself slipping further down the pecking order.
“It’s not easy,” Ansu said in an old interview. “One day you’re flying, and the next, you’re sitting on the bench wondering when you’ll get your chance again. It gets to you.”
That Brighton Move Didn't Go How He Hoped
Barcelona loaned him out to Brighton for the 2023–24 season. The plan was simple play regularly, get fit, and find some form again.
It started well enough. He played a few games, scored a couple of goals, and looked like he was starting to find his rythm. But then, in December, another injury.
He was out again for a while, and when he came back, Brighton had moved on. Other players had stepped up. He spent a lot of time on the bench again.
He ended up making 19 appearances in the league, most of them as a sub. Not the season he wanted.
“People say it was a bad loan, but I don’t think it was,” Ansu said. “I learned a lot especially how to stay calm and keep working, even when things aren’t going your way. That’s part of the game.”
From the outside, fans see minutes played, goals scored, or headlines. But behind the scenes, it’s tough.
Injuries, confidence, pressure it’s not easy for any player, let alone someone who was expected to be Barcelona’s future.
Monaco Could Be What He Needs
So now, he’s at Monaco. And honestly, it feels like a smart move.
Monaco isn’t as intense as Barcelona or even the Premier League. But it’s still a good club. It’s a place where young players have room to grow without too much noise. Mbappé came through there same as Tchouaméni. It’s not about hype it’s about development.
For Barcelona, this loan helps them too. They’re still dealing with financial issues, and sending Ansu out saves some money on wages. So it works for both sides.
But Ansu isn’t thinking about all that. He just wants to play again.
“I want consistency,” he said. “If I get minutes, I’ll give everything. That’s all I ask.”
He’s not asking to be the star. He just wants a fair shot.
He’s Done With the Messi Talk
If there’s one good thing about how things have gone, it’s that people have finally stopped comparing him to Messi. That pressure was never fair anyway.
Now, in Monaco, there’s no one expecting him to take over games or lead the club to a title. He can just play.
“He’s only 22,” a Spanish journalist said on Cadena SER. “It feels like he’s been in the spotlight forever, but he’s still just a kid in football terms. There’s plenty of time for him to bounce back.”
Ansu himself sounds more grounded now.
“I believe in God,” he said quietly. “There’s a bunch of stuff I just can’t control… but I can choose how I show up every day. I can control how hard I work, how I deal with all the crap when it hits. That’s what I’m focusing on now.”
You can tell he’s been through it injuries, pressure, being written off. But he’s not walking away. He’s still turning up, day by day, just trying to get back to feeling like himself again.
Monaco Life Might Actually Help Him
Monaco isn’t like Barcelona. It’s a quieter place. The media isn’t on your back every week. The city is calm. The fans are loyal, but not over-the-top.
For Ansu, that could be exactly what he needs to be in a place where he can just focus on football without all the noise around him.
His new coach, Adi Hütter, already sounds like he gets it.
“Ansu is a talented player,” Hütter said. “We’re not putting pressure on him. We want him to enjoy playing and grow as part of the team.”
Sometimes, that kind of support is more valuable than any tactics or formations. It’s about feeling like someone believes in you.
A Message to Barça Fans
Even though he’s away from Camp Nou now, Ansu made it clear he hasn’t forgotten where he came from.
“I grew up at Barça,” he said. “I’ll always love the club. But I needed a change. I hope fans understand.”
He’s not angry. He’s not blaming anyone. He just needed some time time to breathe, reset, and figure things out for himself.
Leaving a club like Barcelona is not easy. It’s all he’s ever known. And let’s be real wearing the number 10 shirt there means something.
That’s a lot for a teenager to carry. But sometimes, you have to step away just to figure yourself out again. That’s really what this move is about giving himself the space to grow, without all the pressure and constant noise.
What’s Next for Him?
This season isn’t about breaking records or being in the headlines again. For Ansu, it’s about staying fit, playing consistently, and getting his confidence back.
If he does well, maybe he returns to Barcelona stronger. Or maybe he moves on somewhere else permanently. Either way, the focus right now is just on getting his game back.
We’ve seen plenty of players bounce back before guys like Marco Reus, Luke Shaw, even Memphis Depay after his early struggles. Ansu still has time. He just needs to stay healthy, stay patient, and believe in himself.
Fans love a good comeback story. And Ansu’s isn’t finished yet.
Right now, he’s just a young player trying to find his feet again. No pressure. No big talk. Just football.
And if he can find joy in the game again, that’s already a win.
Ansu Fati isn’t done. This might just be the beginning of something new.
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