Despite his age, Ansu Fati doesn’t need any time to adjust to the highest level.
A 16-year-old forward, Fati became Barcelona’s youngest-ever goal scorer a couple weeks ago. He received his first start at home against Valencia on Saturday and took no time proving he belongs on one of the best teams in the world.
Fati scored in the second minute and added an assist five minutes later in a mindboggling opening to his first career start.
Joining the senior team in part because of an injury to Messi, Fati made his senior level debut with a 12-minute cameo against Real Betis on Aug. 25. Given 45 minutes to shine against Osasuna, he scored six minutes after coming on.
On Saturday, the Guinea-Bissau native — he’s being courted to represent Spain internationally, having lived there since he was 6 — opened the scoring less than two minutes in by smashing home a cross from Frenkie de Jong.
Ansu Fati Goal vs Valencia
He’ll turn 17 on Halloween, but Fati is already finishing like a seasoned veteran.
Fati turned provider moments later. The teenager zipped past his defender on the wing before returning the favor to de Jong, Barcelona’s new 22-year-old midfielder. It was de Jong’s first goal with Barcelona after arriving from Ajax over the summer and evoked a smile from Messi.
A goal and assist seven minutes into Fati’s first career start — is it time to start the Lionel Messi comparisons? Maybe not yet, but we won’t blame you if you do.
If Fati keeps this up, Barcelona will be just fine letting its talisman take his time to return to full health.
Then again, the Blaugrana play at Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, and anything less than Barcelona’s best won’t be good enough at Westfalenstadion.
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