Barcelona star Ansu Fati says it’s ‘no pressure’ inheriting Lionel Messi’s No10 shirt as teenager scores in Levante win
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BARCELONA star Ansu Fati says it's 'no pressure' wearing Lionel Messi's No 10 shirt.
The 18-year-old scored just nine minutes into his Barca return after TEN MONTHS out injured as the Catalans beat Levante 3-0 on Sunday.
Barca were unable to retire Messi's No 10 after he left for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer because of a bizarre Spanish law.
Spanish FA rules state LaLiga teams must assign their 25-man squads the numbers 1 to 25.
Goalkeepers either wear 1, 13 or 25 while reserve players brought into the first team can have 26 to 50.
So if Barcelona had retired Messi's No10, they would have sacrificed a place in their squad for this season.
In the end Fati switched from No 17 to 10 but says he feels pride rather than pressure.
Speaking after the Levante win, he said: "It is not a pressure.
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"I am proud to wear the number 10 after Leo.
";I am happy with the club and captains for the opportunity."
Fati missed ten months of action as he had FOUR operations on his knee.
And he celebrated his emotional return with the team's doctors after he scored.
Fati came off the bench in the 82nd minute when Barca were 2-0 up at the Nou Camp thanks to goals from Memphis Depay and Luuk de Jong.
He picked up the ball in midfield and ran at a weary Levante defence, twisting and turning before unleashing a superb strike from 20 yards.
He added afterward: "I did not imagine a return like this.
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"I am happy for the victory, there is still a long way to go.
"Thanks to the doctors and physios who have been with me.
"I am happy to help the team and for my family who have been suffering these months. I am very grateful to all."
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