Hansi Flick does not see Barcelona attacker as a key player – report

Earlier in the summer, many expected Ansu Fati to enjoy a comeback season after showing exceptional form during the pre-season training.

However, his progress was derailed due to an injury that saw him miss Barcelona’s pre-season tour to the US.

Expectations were high upon his return, with many hoping the young forward would once again be a vital cog in the team’s attack. But the reality has been quite different.

Flick does not see him as a key player right now

As reported by Mundo Deportivo, Flick does not appear to see Ansu as an important player in the Barcelona setup right now.

Since his comeback, Flick has kept him largely out of the rotation. Despite the German coach’s reputation for squad rotation, Ansu has struggled for playing time since his return from injury.

Ansu Fati has not featured regularly under Hansi Flick. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

He played just two minutes plus added time against Monaco, and since then, he has been left out of the matches against Villarreal, Getafe, and Osasuna.

In Barcelona’s 4-2 win over Osasuna, Ansu’s absence was particularly noticeable, as the team had to come back from a two-goal deficit.

Flick opted for Raphinha and Lamine Yamal early in the second half, while Hector Fort was brought on as a last-minute substitution when Ansu was already prepared to enter the game.

Flick’s decisions suggest that, at the moment, the German coach does not view Ansu as a key player in his plans.

Despite showing glimpses of his talent in pre-season and in training, Ansu continues to struggle for consistent opportunities to make his mark. Whether or not that will change in the coming weeks remains to be seen.