Had to wait. But it was released. He did it in a wonderful setting like Old Trafford and in a match that his new team, Brighton, excelled against Manchester United, which they beat 1-3. Ansu Fati was already able to wear his number 31, the same one with which he started at Barça, in his destination this season. The forward on loan from Barcelona took the field in the 64th minute and was able to participate in the victory. He seemed eager and easy. He came within inches of scoring a goal but Onana deflected his shot.
Fati asked to go out on loan to have more presence than at Barcelona and his departure was officially consummated on the last day of the market, Friday, September 1. That is why he still did not make the Brighton squad that weekend. But after the national team break, his coach, the Italian Roberto de Zerbi, decided to include him on the list for the first time. “He is ready to play, I want to enjoy seeing his ability but I don’t want to put pressure on him because he has only been with us for a short time,” the transalpine had declared the day before.
Ansu landed in a well-rounded team, with very good manners, and overflowing with confidence, which this Saturday added its fourth victory in five days. Not even the rival, always powerful in their stadium, intimidated Brighton. Not in vain did he stand at Old Trafford as the last visitor to win there in a Premier League match. He had achieved it on the first day of last season and came out ready to repeat it. He did it.
Despite some initial struggles by United, led by Marcus Rashford, the best of his team, Brighton took the lead after 20 minutes, led by an old United acquaintance like Danny Welbeck. Already a veteran, the former Red Devils and Arsenal player started and finished a play to find his shot in the net. Unstoppable for Onana. Ansu Fati applauded from the bench the good work of his teammates, who have firepower and have turned De Zerbi’s team into one of the most dangerous in the championship. A team that scored the second after an excellent collective action that the German Gross (53) transformed.
The former Barça number 10 already knew Old Trafford and also its bench. Not in vain, on February 23 he was there with Barça and did not play in the Europa League match until the 76th minute, when he relieved Raphinha in search of the Blaugrana’s comeback. Xavi’s men lost 2-1 and were eliminated.
On this occasion he jumped in with the score at 0-2 and enjoyed half an hour after replacing Welbeck. Fati was positioned as a midfielder, behind Joao Pedro, who sealed the game with the third goal (72). Ansu dragged the defense on that play. He got into tune, he showed character by demanding a ball from Joao Pedro that did not reach him and he even starred in two shots that Onana blocked. Hannibal (73) reduced the gap for United. But victory was already on its way to Brighton.
