Out-of-favor Barcelona forward finally returns to the team’s official squad list to face Rayo Vallecano | OneFootball

This season has been one in which FC Barcelona have seen their squad be tested to the limit. Initially, there was an expectation that Hansi Flick could suffer due to the unavailability of certain players at particular points of the season. However, the German coach managed to make his Barcelona team work out nonetheless.

At the very beginning, Ronald Araujo’s injury meant that Flick would likely have to rely on Inigo Martinez as an alternative option. Ultimately, instead of being any kind of a downgrade, Flick’s newly-introduced aggressive high-line tactic ended up being the perfect catalyst for Martinez to unlock his true potential.

A key lesson from that development is that every player at the top level, especially at Barcelona, has something special to offer. Perhaps due to that belief, a certain young forward chose to stick around despite having very limited opportunities this season.

According to SPORT, 22-year-old Spanish forward Ansu Fati chose not to leave himself during the winter transfer window despite his lack of minutes. Despite some interest from clubs in Turkey as well, the Barcelona forward chose to stay right where he is.

A key factor behind this was reportedly Hansi Flick’s honesty with the player, and the fact that the German coach did not completely close the door for him to make an eventual comeback. However, Flick does demand more intensity and commitment from the player in training if he wants to earn his opportunity, and he still seems to have hope in the player’s ability to accomplish that.

Now, in the most recent squad list, Ansu Fati has finally been included ahead of the game against Rayo Vallecano. Previously, the youngster saw himself be excluded from various squad lists and it was clearly a frustrating period of time for him.

That is exactly why this recent inclusion is a big step for him, despite the fact that it was potentially only possible due to Fermin Lopez’s suspension. Even though he may not start, he could attempt to build on from here and possibly try to ensure more opportunities for himself in the future.