FC Barcelona were not only eliminated from the Copa del Rey on Thursday evening, but also have to cope with a serious personnel setback. Ansu Fati will be out for two months.
After just one hour, the game was already over for Ansu Fati on Thursday evening. The 19-year-old technician with the back number 10 taken over from Lionel Messi had to leave the field injured, burst into tears and was unceremoniously comforted by coach Xavi.
According to initial reports from the club, the highly talented attacking player had suffered a left thigh injury, which was confirmed on Friday evening. Barça wrote on their social channels of a tendon injury in the left thigh – and that Ansu Fati will be out for around two months straight away.
“He was very dejected “
In addition to the certainty of being knocked out of the last 16 of the Copa del Rey by Athletic Bilbao with a 3-2 extra-time defeat, the Cup evening also brought the next blow for the Catalans.
As Ansu Fati’s tale of woe has been going on for some time now. The hopeful for a new glorious future, who holds a contract until 30 June 2027 including an option until 2029 plus a billion-dollar clause, only recovered from a protracted thigh injury between November and January. Between November 2020 and September 2021, the top talent had also already missed almost a complete year due to a torn meniscus. And knee problems had also accompanied him on and off in between.
“He was very dejected,” the new FCB coach Xavi told the Spanish media after the match – and tried to comfort his young protégé on the sidelines. For a long time, the ex-professional Ansu Fati had taken him in his arms.
