Regardless of their 5-2 win over Real Betis on Saturday, it will not be a good day for Barcelona fans. This is because the club has confirmed that wonderkid Ansu Fati suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee, and he now faces an extended spell on the sideline.
Barcelona Confirm Fati Injury
Arguably the Brightest Youngster in the World
In his first two seasons with Barca’s senior team, Fati has taken La Liga by storm. Ever since he was surprisingly thrown into the fray by Ernesto Valverde, he has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top. He ended his debut season with seven goals, despite not always getting game time.
The fact that he was just 16 when he played his first match should not be understated, and it’s incredible what he’s achieved at such a young age. He immediately clicked with new manager Ronald Koeman upon his arrival, and he hasn’t let him, or anyone else, down so far.
Fati has five goals and four assists in ten appearances in all competitions, and his four league goals place him joint-second in the Pichichi race. His injury will come as a big blow to Barcelona, as he was beginning to establish himself as one of the star men, and possibly the heir to Lionel Messi‘s throne.
Extent of Injury Depends on Treatment Choice
A tear in the meniscus is certainly a concern, and Barcelona must be sure to deal with it accordingly, as it could have catastrophic consequences. If Fati chooses to have surgery to repair it, he could be out for two months. If not, it could be just three weeks.
However, Barcelona must exercise extreme caution when dealing with this issue, as they know all too well what can happen because of it. Samuel Umtiti suffered a similar injury prior to the 2018 World Cup but decided to not have the surgery in order to be fit to represent his country.
France did win the competition, but Umtiti hasn’t been the same since. In just a few short months, he went from one of the best young centre-backs in the world to a forgotten man, a nobody. At just 18 years old, Fati cannot, and absolutely should not, risk the same happening to him. In the end, a failure to deal with this issue could leave him out for far more than two months.
As unfortunate as it is that such a talented footballer has suffered a serious injury, the proper steps must be taken to deal with it, until Fati is ready to return and wreak havoc on opposing defences again.
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