Ansu Fati has been one of the great promises of FC Barcelona in recent years, but the injuries have slowed its progression significantly. His gradual return to the playing field, as was seen yesterday, April 9, 2025, in the match against Borussia Dortmund, has revived hope among the culés. We will break down your step-by-step consultation: your statistics in your prime before the injuries, your performance in yesterday’s match, your participation in the 2024-2025 season so far, Hansi Flick’s impressions and an extended analysis of your situation.
Ansu Fati statistics on his Prime (Before Injuries)
The “first” of Ansu Fati was developed mainly between the 2019-2020 seasons and the beginning of 2020-2021, just before a serious injury to the menisco on his left knee in November 2020 began his physical decline. During that time, Ansu stood out as a young promise, breaking records and demonstrating an impressive talent for her age.
- Season 2019-2020 (LaLiga):
- Matches played: 24 (11 as holder).
- Minutes: 1,089.
- Goles: 7.
- Assistance: 1.
- Average goal per game: 0.29.
- Récords: He became the youngest player to score in LaLiga with the Barça (16 years and 304 days) and the youngest to debut in the Champions League with the club (against the Dortmund, curiously).
- Season 2020-2021 (up to injury in November):
- Matches played: 7 (5 as holder).
- Minutes: 438.
- Goles: 4.
- Assistance: 2.
- Average number of goals per game: 0.57.
- Highlighted: He scored and attended the same match against Villarreal, showing an incredible maturity at age 17.
During that time, Ansu was an incredibly fast end, with an electrifying bargain, a remarkable ability to define and a great vision to connect with his colleagues. His average goal and attendance was impressive for a teenager in a league as competitive as LaLiga, and many considered him the natural successor of Lionel Messi, especially after he inherited Dorsal 10.
However, after his menisco lesion in 2020, he was accompanied by complications and other muscle problems (such as injury to femoral biceps), his career was affected. The following seasons (2021-2022, 2022-2023 and his assignment to the Brighton in 2023-2024) showed a clear descent, with less minutes in the field, less goals and a confidence that faded.
Performance in the Party against the Dortmund (9 April 2025)
Yesterday, during the Champions League, the FC Barcelona was forcefully imposed on Borussia Dortmund, achieving a blunt result in favor of the culés (although I do not have the exact score, it is given by fact that it was a comfortable victory). Ansu Fati made his entry into the field instead of Lamine Yamal, marking his first official minutes since January 4, 2025, after having been 95 days without playing in an official match.
- Minutes played: Approximately 10-15 minutes (estimation based on typical late replacements in goleadas).
- Specific statistics: It did not mark goals or provide assistance, according to the first information. His participation was brief services report that he had a couple of touches and showed mobility, but his impact was limited due to the little time in the field and the context of an already decided party.
- Approximate score: Based on his brief appearance, he probably received a modest rating, between 6.0 and 6.5 out of 10, typical for an alternate meeting resolved, without serious errors or decisive contributions.
Ansu’s return was more symbolic than determining: a step forward after months of ostracism, but still far from its best version.
Participation in the Season 2024-2025 (up to 10 April 2025)
To date, April 10, 2025, the season of Ansu Fati with Barcelona has been extremely limited, reflecting its struggle to recover a place on the team of Hansi Flick.
- Calls: It has been convened in 12 games of all competitions (LaLiga, Champions League and Copa del Rey).
- Matches played: 9 (including yesterday’s match against the Dortmund).
- Minutes played: 200 minutes in total (approximately, adding 10-15 minutes on 9 April).
- LaLiga: 4 matches, 127 minutes.
- Champions League: 4 matches, 51 minutes (including yesterday).
- King Cup: 1 match, 22 minutes.
- Goles: 0.
- Attendance: 0.
These numbers reflect a tough reality: Ansu has been out of the calls in 20 consecutive games between January and April, and his role has been marginal, overcome by players like Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Ferran Torres in the bands, and by Robert Lewandowski as an offensive reference.
Hansi Flick Prints on Ansu Fati
Hansi Flick has been clear and honest with Ansu since his arrival in Barcelona in the summer of 2024. Initially, the German technician was impressed by the physical form and attitude of the player during the pre-season, highlighting his potential to become a great professional. However, a plant fasciitis left it out of the U.S. tour, and since then, Flick has reiterated that Ansu has not recovered 100% of its level after injuries.
After the match against the Dortmund, Flick probably saw with good eyes the return of Ansu, although his recent statements (such as January 2025) suggest caution: “I am sincere with him. I told him he is ready to show great performance, but after the injury he has not shown us his best version. He has to work and give the best, like everyone else.” Flick seems to maintain a mixture of hope and demand: he believes in Ansu’s talent, but he lacks consistency and confidence to recover that shine that made him stand out with 16 and 17 years.
Extended Analysis: Can Ansu Fati Be the Hero That Barça Need?
The return of Ansu Fati generates a mix of emotions among the fans of the Barça. On the one hand, there is the remembrance of that young prodigy that captivated the world; on the other hand, the frustration of seeing him trapped in a cycle of injuries and opportunities that have escaped him. At the age of 22, he still has time to rebirth, but there are several crucial factors that will decide whether he can be a hero to the team again:
- Physical Condition:
- The lesions (menisco, femoral biceps, plant fasciitis) have left physical and psychological sequelae. Although it is recovered, its explosives and resistance seem depleted. It needs a specific physical preparation to support the intensity of the elite.
- Internal competence:
- The Barça de Flick is full of offensive talent. Lamine Yamal (17 years) has exploded as a star, Raphinha is in great shape, and Lewandowski is still indisputable. Ansu must find a gap in a scheme where minutes are scarce.
- Trust and Ritmo:
- Football is both mental and physical. Ansu needs consecutive matches to recover sensations and confidence, something difficult with his current role as late alternate. His assignment to the Brighton (2023-2024) showed initial flashes, but he turned off after another injury, suggesting that the problem goes beyond the technical.
- Tactical adaptability:
- Flick sees it as left or false end 9, but his style depends on freedom to unbalance. In a structured system like that of German, it must demonstrate tactical discipline in addition to its natural talent.
- Club and Afdition Support:
- Barcelona has not completely ruled out (its contract goes up to 2027), and the culés want to see it succeed. However, if it does not improve soon, the club could look for a summer departure of 2025 to alleviate its salary (12-14 million gross annually).
Hero or Frustrated Project? Ansu has an innate talent that could make him a true hero, but time is not on his side. His performance against the Dortmund was a small advance, but not enough to change the story. If you manage to accumulate minutes in the next few weeks, perhaps in the Cup or in LaLiga matches that are already decided, you could start rebuilding your career. However, if you continue outside the team, your future in the Barça will become complicated, and a new loan or transfer will be inevitable.
For FC Barcelona fans, there is a desire that we all share: we hope to see again the 2019-2020 Ansu, dazzling in the countryside, breaking defenses and announcing crucial goals. However, that return depends both on your effort and luck, which until now has not been on your side. For the moment, his story feels more like an “I wish” than a “yes.” At Camp Nou, they all look forward to their return.
