Ansu Fati has been asked to snub interest from Spain’s national team by his father after his nationalisation was made official.
Barcelona’s La Masia has a long history of producing generational talents. Players such as Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol, Sergio Busquets and many more were moulded in the academy and went on to become stars for their club and country.
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16-year old Ansu Fati is on his way to be counted among his illustrious predecessors after a dream start to his Barcelona career. The youngster already has a couple of goals and an assist to his name. He is already being touted as a wonderkid with a potential to become a genius of the game in the future.
So much so, that the Spanish government moved to make his nationalisation on Friday; in a bid to fast-track his availability for selection to the national U-17 team. With the U-17 coming soon, Spain desire to make use of his talents in the team. However, there is one man who wishes to see Ansu Fati decline the invitation from La Roja.
Ansu Fati has been asked to snub interest from Spain’s national team by his father
Ansu Fati’s father wants to see his son represent Portugal in the international arena instead of Spain.
Speaking to A Bola, Bori Fati said:
‘My dream was to see my son playing for Portugal and I think that was also his dream, but now it is difficult.
‘Some time ago, I spoke with a director from the Portuguese Football Federation. The conversation was positive and we agreed to talk the following day but that person hasn’t called me back.
‘Then, with these matches that he played, the pressure from Spain grew very strong and I’ve been contacted directly by the president of the Spanish Federation.’
‘He feels Portuguese and so do I. And it would be easy for him to play for Portugal. It would be enough for Umaro Embalo, the Benfica player, to convince him.
‘He is a great friend, and speaks every day with Ansu.
‘Everything is in the hands of Ansu, he will take a decision now.’
It is very likely that Ansu Fati will represent Spain in the U-17 World Cup in October. However, doing so will not put his prospects of playing for Portugal under any threat. Until Fati makes a senior appearance for either, he still has the time to sit back and choose which shade of Red would he like to don in the future.
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