Ansu Fati breathes a sigh of relief. The young talent, once the proud inheritor of the number 10 jersey from Leo Messi, is on the brink of joining AS Monaco on loan for the upcoming season. This decision comes after he turned down offers from Chelsea and Ajax, who were also eager to acquire his skills. Sources close to the player have confirmed that the club from the Principality will have an option to buy, providing a potential solution for both Barcelona and, perhaps more importantly, for Fati himself.

Fati's aspiration to feel valued and cherished again comes after a period of isolation. Following his unsuccessful loan spell at Brighton, this season has been a rollercoaster for the academy graduate. He returned with high hopes, only to be thwarted by injury. As winter approached, the exit door opened wide after he spent most matches observing from the sidelines. Despite the allure of offers, Fati yearned to stay. A fleeting motivational video from Hansi Flick ignited a spark, but the realization that he needed a change became inevitable. Having logged a mere 298 minutes across 11 appearances, the writing was on the wall—Fati needed to move on, likely to AS Monaco in Ligue 1, with a loan and a potential purchase option on the table.

In a phone conversation, Monaco's coach Adi Hütter reassured Fati, saying, “Come here, even if you do nothing for five games, it's okay.” The young forward, forever tied to the dreams of the Barça fans who have been yearning for new idols since Messi's departure and Lamine Yamal's stunning rise, longed for affection and appreciation once more. This year was another uphill battle. During the summer, he convinced the newly arrived Flick, and Barcelona's management hoped to revive the Ansu who once filled them with hope before surgery derailed his progress. However, a foot injury dashed those dreams, causing him to miss the preseason and the start of the campaign, and opportunities slipped through his fingers.

“Injuries have significantly impacted his time at Barça. He's a great player who, for whatever reason, hasn't had a consistent run this season due to injuries and some tough moments. But we still believe in him. He is under contract with us. Each player's journey is unique: if one believes they need more playing time, discussions will ensue,” Deco, Barça's sports director, commented to RAC1 in late May. Joan Laporta echoed this sentiment to TV3, stating, “We want him to play. He's very loved in the locker room, but he needs to play. We'll see if next season offers him minutes or if we find a solution beneficial for both him and Barça.”

By winter, having played eight matches, the club opened the door for his departure. But Fati, determined to persevere at Barcelona, rejected offers from interested clubs. “He wants to feel important again,” his camp asserted at the time. He wanted to achieve this at Barça. Yet, the field remained elusive. Sometimes he watched from the bench; other times, he wasn't even on the roster. Flick, aiming to reignite Fati's passion, prepared a short motivational video, hoping to integrate him back into the first team dynamic. “I want to help him,” Flick repeatedly emphasized in press conferences, addressing Fati's situation with a straightforward approach and emphasizing the need for him to “continue working.” Fati's happiness, though, was fleeting: after being called up against Rayo Vallecano, he was left out for the next match. Despite his continued efforts in training, playtime remained scarce.

In early April, against Borussia Dortmund, opportunities arose. After Barcelona's triumph over the German team at Montjuïc and an abundance of minutes for Yamal, a substitution was requested. Fati entered the field, beaming as he received applause from the fans who have always stood by him. “Until Ansu leaves, I don't want to hear anything about the number 10. He's my friend,” Lamine affirmed regarding the jersey, where Fati holds a special place.

During an April match against Celta, Fati warmed up throughout the second half. Flick exhausted his substitutions, sending Fati back, leaving the young player visibly frustrated. He made two more appearances, against Mallorca and Real Valladolid, but it wasn't enough. Fati understood that leaving Barcelona was the best course of action, recognizing that promises remained unfulfilled. Perhaps he felt disillusioned or deceived. Of the 60 matches played by Barça, Fati participated in 11, was not called up for 12, injured for 10, and remained on the bench for 27.