Fati warns: Real Madrid arrives with fury
Former Barcelona star Ansu Fati, in an interview with AS, predicts an exceptionally exciting season in Spain, highlighting José Mourinho's return to Real Madrid's bench and the great ambitions of both clubs.
Former Barcelona star Ansu Fati, in an interview with AS, predicts an exceptionally exciting season in Spain, highlighting José Mourinho's return to Real Madrid's bench and the great ambitions of both clubs.
Ansu Fati, once Barcelona's great hope and now a regular at Monaco, shared his thoughts on the upcoming Spanish league season. In a lengthy interview with Spanish newspaper AS, the young forward doesn't hide his expectation of a fierce title race, especially highlighting the return of a familiar face to Real Madrid's bench.
Fati specifically emphasized that José Mourinho's return as Real Madrid's coach will be a key factor. "Real Madrid is also bringing in good players, and they have many excellent players, and Mourinho has also returned to the team, so I think the league will be very competitive," Fati stated. He believes this is a clear signal that the Madrid club wants to end the dominance of their biggest rival.
He added that he senses a special motivation within Real Madrid's ranks. "Real Madrid comes with bitterness because Barcelona has been winning all these years. We'll see what happens, but Barcelona is building a strong team, and many players have known each other for years. That's also important for forming a good group," emphasized the former Blaugrana player.
Although he warns of the danger from Madrid, Fati is aware of the strength his former club possesses. He commented on potential arrivals at Barcelona, such as Gordon, Adeyemi, and maybe even Rodri. "Barcelona with Gordon, Adeyemi, and maybe Rodri? In football, no one can know. It changes from year to year. There are two or three years where one team is better than the other," he said, leaving the impression that the season won't be a one-way street.
Fati also spoke about his move to Monaco, describing it as an emotional experience. "When I signed for Monaco, I felt both sadness and joy. I spent many years at Barcelona, and I leave behind many friends and people who work at La Masia. They all sent me messages and contacted me, and I also said goodbye to them. The first days were sad, but that's life. We have to accept what comes and keep looking forward," he honestly admitted.
Now he is fully focused on his new environment. "I'm very happy here. The weather is similar to Barcelona. We're in the preseason preparation period now. There's a lot of training in the heat, and we're preparing for the start of the French league," he revealed. He is grateful for the reception: "Thanks to the trust Monaco showed in my abilities, the wonderful way they welcomed me, and the treatment I received from everyone, I tried to give my best to help the team, and I think I did."
He also touched on the prestigious Ballon d'Or award, highlighting how difficult it is to pick a winner this year. "After the World Cup, many players entered the debate about who deserves the Ballon d'Or. Rodri? Messi? Mbappe? As a forward, I'll always choose a forward, but I think Rodri had a wonderful World Cup. And Messi too, after breaking records in goals and assists. And Mbappe also had a crazy World Cup match and was the tournament's top scorer," Fati analyzed.
He also singled out Barcelona's young star. "This year is very tough. Lamine Yamal is also in the running. He became a champion, so we'll see," Fati concluded, hinting that the race for the most prestigious individual award is wide open.
