Ansu Fati is poised to make his long-awaited return to La Liga this weekend, as Barcelona prepare to face Osasuna. The 21-year-old forward has been sidelined for 15 months due to a series of injuries but is now ready to rejoin the squad after a painstaking recovery process. His inclusion in the squad marks a significant milestone in his young career, as he hopes to regain the form that once made him one of Europe’s most exciting talents.
Fati’s journey back to fitness has been anything but smooth. His recovery has been plagued by multiple setbacks, including a relapse that kept him out of much of the pre-season preparations.
However, despite rumors of a possible exit from the club before the start of the 2024/25 campaign, Fati remained determined to stay at Barcelona and fight for his place.
His persistence seems to be paying off, as he inches closer to full fitness and a regular role in Hansi Flick’s side.
Fati made his first appearance since the injury in a brief cameo during Barcelona’s 2-1 Champions League defeat to AS Monaco.
Although it was a minor step, it marked the end of his lengthy absence from competitive football and hinted at a gradual reintegration into the first-team fold.
Flick, who is cautious about rushing Fati back too quickly, has opted for a measured approach to his recovery, ensuring the player is not overburdened at such a crucial stage of his comeback.
Fati’s inclusion in the squad for the match against Osasuna is particularly poignant. It was at Pamplona’s El Sadar Stadium where he scored his first-ever goal for Barcelona’s senior team in a 2-2 draw, becoming the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer at the time.
That record has since been broken by Barcelona’s latest prodigy, Lamine Yamal, but Fati’s return to the scene of his early triumph will undoubtedly evoke strong emotions for the young winger.
With Barcelona facing a packed schedule in the coming weeks, Fati’s return comes at an opportune moment.
Flick has already hinted that the winger could see some minutes in Pamplona, with a view to gradually increasing his involvement as the season progresses.
Barcelona, too, will be eager to have Fati back to his best, as they look to challenge on multiple fronts this season.
For Fati, the return to La Liga represents more than just the end of his injury nightmare. It is a chance to reignite a career that promised so much before injuries stalled his progress.
The coming weeks will reveal whether he can rediscover the explosive form that saw him hailed as one of the brightest prospects in world football.
All eyes will be on Osasuna this weekend, as Ansu Fati steps back onto the pitch and begins writing the next chapter of his Barcelona story.
