Ansu Fati hopes for Lionel Messi transfer return despite taking Barcelona legend’s shirt number
BARCELONA star Ansu Fati has said he hopes for Lionel Messi to return to the Nou Camp - despite taking the Barcelona legend's shirt number.
For almost two decades Messi wowed crowds in Spain with his outrageous footballing abilities.
After the 35-year-old's controversial departure to Paris Saint-Germain, Fati snapped up his famous No10 shirt.
The Barcelona youth product will be hoping to emulate Messi and become a star of the Catalan giants.
But he is also hoping the Argentinian makes a sensational return to the club in the future.
When asked about whether he would welcome a Messi return, the 19-year-old told : "Sure. He could therefore have the farewell he deserves, by the front door, as the number one in history should do."
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Fati also spoke of his excitement for the season as Barcelona continue to make statement signings.
He said: "We are making a very good team, very competitive. The new signings will give us a lot during the season.
"They are great players who will help us. It is a team that wants to win titles.
"We know that in recent years we have only won the Copa del Rey, and Barça cannot afford that.
"We have a very powerful forward line and we will have a lot of competition.
"This is very good for the team and for the players, we will not relax.
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"We know that if you don't work well, you won't play, because there will be another player who can play in your place.
"This is good, because it will always keep us in tension."
Fati was only included in first team action in the two seasons before Messi's departure.
In that time, the PSG forward assisted three goals for Fati before the teen star inherited his number 10 shirt.
Fati has seen opportunities to make his name at Barcelona hampered by consistent injury issues.
He missed nine months of action beginning in the 2020-21 season, where he was limited to only seven La Liga appearances.
Meanwhile, speculation continues that senior figures at Barcelona could be angling to try and bring Messi back to the club next year when his contract with PSG runs out.