Fati woes continue as Barcelona forward suffers foot injury in training

Barcelona forward Ansu Fati has suffered a foot injury during a pre-season training session after returning from an underwhelming loan spell at Brighton and Hove Albion.

Hopes were high for Fati when he enjoyed a breakout 2019-20 season, eventually being handed the Blaugrana’s iconic number 10 shirt when Lionel Messi departed in 2021.

However, he has struggled with injuries in the ensuing years, making a total of 21 starts in La Liga from the start of 2020-21 to the end of 2022-23.

Fati joined Brighton on loan last season in a move widely viewed as a coup for the Seagulls, but he only started three league games for the club, totalling 514 minutes across 19 appearances and scoring twice.

He has now been prevented from travelling to the United States for Barca’s pre-season tour, which features fixtures against Manchester City, Real Madrid and Milan.

MEDICAL NEWS | In Tuesday’s training session, first team player Ansu Fati suffered a foot injury. He will undergo conservative treatment in Barcelona and his return to training will be determined by his recovery time. pic.twitter.com/jgQoC2PJAx

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 24, 2024

In a statement released on Wednesday, the club said: “In Tuesday’s training session, first-team player Ansu Fati suffered a foot injury.

“He will undergo conservative treatment in Barcelona and his return to training will be determined by his recovery time.”

Fati has expressed a desire to stay with Barca, where he has a contract until 2027, though he has been linked with a move to Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in recent weeks.