Numbers, languages, records… 11 things to know about Ansu Fati | OneFootball

Here's a look at some key facts about the 22-year-old striker, who arrived in the Principality this Tuesday to join AS Monaco on loan until the end of the season.

There’s a new offensive asset at the foot of the Rock. Having landed in the Principality this Tuesday from FC Barcelona on loan until the end of the season with the Rouge et Blanc, Ansu Fati is a pure product of La Masia. Before his big debut, here are 11 things to know about him. Portrait 🧐

Another Spaniard at the foot of the Rock 🇪🇸

First and foremost, the new Monegasque left winger will join a very select group of Spanish players who have played in the Principality. To date, there are only six representatives of La Roja to have played in Rouge et Blanc. Among them, a certain Cesc Fàbregas, who also comes from the Catalan side, in addition to Fernando Morientes, Gerard López, Jordi Mboula, Borja López and Robert Navarro.

In a line of (very) big names 🌟

Moreover, there are now 16 players who have played for both clubs, with Ansu Fati being the most recent. And the least we can say is that there is plenty to be inspired by. From Thierry Henry to Ludovic Giuly, from Sonny Anderson to Yaya Touré (and the same goes for Philippe Christanval, Eric Abidal, Rafael Márquez, Gerard, Javier Saviola, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Borja López), the big names have come and gone, leaving their mark on the two clubs.

For the record, while he’s part of an already well-stocked list for Barça, this isn’t the case when you look at the number of players who have played in the Principality and at Brighton. Loaned to the Seagulls for the 2023-2024 season, he thus repeats what only Sébastien Carole, an attacking midfielder trained at the Club, had experienced in the early 2000s.

A Clasico well remembered 👶

A product of the prestigious Blaugrana youth academy, he made his professional debut at the age of 16 years and 321 days, becoming the youngest player in history to play a match for Barça in the competition. He was later overtaken by a certain… Lamine Yamal, at 15 years and 290 days old!

This same player would also inherit the record for youngest goalscorer in a El Clasico in October 2024, previously held by Ansu Fati for over four years, and a goal that was the 400th scored by the Catalans against Real Madrid.

A success story at San Siro 🏟️

Continuing with the theme of records, one still remains held by the Spanish left winger. On December 10, 2019, at San Siro, FC Barcelona took on Inter Milan on home soil. In the 86th minute of play, the Catalan number 31, at the age of 17 years and 40 days, gave his team the victory and broke the record for the youngest goalscorer in the Champions League, set by Peter Ofori-Quaye in 1997 (17 years and 194 days).

A “special” number in his eyes 👀

Moreover, the new Monaco player has chosen to once again wear this unusual but highly symbolic number, as he explained: “My first Barça jersey had the 31 on it, which is also my birthday (he was born on October 31, 2002). It’s a special number for me. Debuting with this number means a lot to me.” He succeeds German striker Kevin Volland, who played for the club from 2020 to 2023 (115 matches, 39 goals), and Olivier Veigneau.

A Stade Louis-II pitch that may seem familiar 🔙

While he’ll be making his first appearance in the French league in Rouge et Blanc, Ansu Fati came on as a substitute during Barça’s visit to the Principality on the first matchday of the Champions League. It was a very fond memory for Monaco fans and an opportunity for them to see him now play in La Diagonale.

Brazilian-Style Role Models 🇧🇷

While he chose to play in an attacking role, he drew inspiration from two Seleção legends. Starting with Ronaldo “Il Fenomeno,” whose posters adorned his bedroom walls when he arrived in Spain. The second is none other than Ronaldinho, for his dribbling skills and genius, and the idea of ​​wanting to “play like a child.”

In Ansu’s Footsteps 👣

Football seems to run in the Fati family. While Ansu, the older brother, has already played professionally for the Blaugrana, his younger brother Miguel is following in his footsteps at La Masia. He has a  similar trajectory and an even stronger connection with the recently crowned Spanish champion.

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Open to discussion 😎

With Spanish, Portuguese, and Guinean-Bissau nationalities, Ansu Fati is fluent in four languages, including Catalan and… French! All while managing to adapt and giving the impression of constantly expressing himself in his mother tongue.

(Very) popular on social media 📲

One thing is certain: with over 12 million fans on social media (including 10.7 million on Instagram), the young Spaniard has a loyal and engaged community of followers. It’s a great way for him to share moments from his career and travels… like his time in the Principality during the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, which was marked by Charles Leclerc’s triumph!

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Controller and cleats 🎮

He never really strays far from the pitch. When he leaves the pitch, Ansu Fati loves to get back on the ball… controller in hand! This is an opportunity for Rouge et Blanc fans to enjoy, before the start of the next season, his FC 25 card on EA Sports FC, which boasts an overall rating of 77 and a great potential of 83.