Ansu Fati can't catch a break! Barcelona outcast suffers cruel injury blow in pre-season training after returning from disappointing Brighton loan spell

The youngster's career has been marred by several injuries since he burst onto the scene at the age of 16 in 2019 at Camp Nou. A meniscus tear in the knee initially sidelined him for almost a year in 2020, requiring surgery and rehabilitation. And then subsequent hamstring and muscle injuries further hampered Ansu's progress, which led the Catalan club to send him out on loan to Brighton last summer.

During his loan spell at Brighton, Ansu once again got sidelined with another hamstring problem which saw him spend three months on the sidelines. His fitness struggles restricted him from realising his potential in the Premier League and he was able to play just over 1000 minutes during the loan stint. The Spaniard returned to pre-season with renewed vigour to impress new manager Hansi Flick, but an untimely foot injury has once again thwarted his progress.

Barcelona released an official statement regarding Ansu's latest injury that read: "In Tuesday’s training session, first team player Ansu Fati injured the sole of his right foot. He will follow a conservative treatment plan in Barcelona, and his return to training will be decided by his recovery."

Despite expressing his desire to stay and succeed with the Catalan giants, the club has reportedly informed Ansu that he does not feature in the plans of Flick. Barcelona are said to be open to selling him this summer which has attracted interest from several clubs, including Fenerbahce, where manager Jose Mourinho is considering a move for the forward as he builds his squad for the upcoming season.

Ansu's latest injury has put him in a flux. If the issue is serious, then he will be stuck in limbo, at least until January, when the next transfer window opens. His journey has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows and this marks another major blow to the youngster's aspirations of living up to the expectations of the iconic No. 10 jersey that he wears for Barcelona.