Introduction:
In the last decade or so,Spanish giant FC Barcelona have gone through many ups and downs.From being the best run club in the world to the club on the verge of bankruptcy,the fall is excruciating for the fans.On the sporting front things have been bleak since the departure of the Greatest Player in The History,Lionel Messi. Since GOAT left the club in 2021,the club have won just one piece of silverware,a LA Liga title.
Mismanagement from Club’s hierarchy from top to bottom have resulted in bad performances on the pitch. The young glittering talents Ansu Fati,Pedri and Gavi,who were once considered the shining lights of FC Barcelona not so long ago,are fighting for their careers due to injuries and various other issues.Below we will discuss three potential superstars,whose careers are on the crossroads because of the poor management at the club.
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Ansu Fati (FC Barcelona,On loan at Brighton)
In 2019-20 season,FC Barcelona’s famous academy La Masia gifted the club a real gem in Ansu Fati. The kid was just 16 years old but oozed class and confidence well beyond his age.Fati made instant impact in the first team,linking up well with club icon Lionel Messi and scoring worldies. Fati was mooted to be the harbinger of new era of success at FC Barcelona.
When Messi left the club in 2021,his iconic number 10 shirt was handed over to Fati. Unfortunately,the shirt weighed too heavily on the kid.The mere thought of filling the boots of a legitimate contender for GOAT is scary. The pressure got the better of Fati. He tried to do too much on the pitch on his own,which affected the team badly and Fati lost his confidence. He might have rediscovered his form with more hard work,unfortunately,injuries hampered him badly.
In 2020/21, a meniscus tear kept him out of action for almost a year. Since then he is fighting various issues with his knee and hamstring. In 2023/24 season,FC Barcelona loaned him out to Brighton to regain form and fitness.But injuries are preventing him from a consistent run in the team. In 21 appearances for Brighton so far,(mostly from bench),Fati has just find the back of net for times. FC Barcelona should share the blame for the current plight of potential Messi successor.
Firstly,the club put too much pressure on him by handing him the iconic no.10 jersey,then the medical staff failed to treat his knee issues properly. Still only 21 years o age,Fati has plenty of time on his hand to revitalize his career,but there are serious question marks over the possibility of Fati reaching the heights that his talent deserved.
Pedri (FC Barcelona Midfielder)
When FC Barcelona signed Pedri from Las Palmas five years ago in a deal worth 5 million,there was a sense that barca had found a real diamond. Pedri made instant impact and became the heartbeat of the declining team.His silky skills and mesmerizing dribbles likened him to the club legend and one of the greatest midfielder of all time, Andres Iniesta .
In 2020/2021 season, Pedri became the fixture in Ronald Koeman’s team at the age of just 17. His humming presence in the midfield offered hope that post-Messi era may not be that bad after all. But incompetency from FC Barcelona management and Spanish FA struck again. At that tender age,Pedri was playing too much. He was starting every game for club and country. He played 53 times for FC Barcelona in 2020/21 season,rarely getting a day off.
At Euro 2020,Pedri was the lynchpin of the Spanish national team. He starred in the tournament and took home the ,Young Player Of The Tournament,award. Now Pedri deserved the much needed rest but shockingly,he was sent to japan to represent Spain in the Olympics. By the end of it all,Pedri had played over 4000 minutes in less than a year. He was exhausted. Soon injuries followed. His hamstring was the first muscle to wear down.
Since September 2021,Pedri has been spending more time on treatment table than on the football pitch. A series of muscular injuries are seriously hampering his career. The mismanagement and incompetency of FC Barcelona and Spanish FA are ruining the career of a generational talent. Pedri has played too much,too young. He has played more minutes than some top-level 25 years old so far.
Gavi (Midfielder,FC Barcelona)
Gavi is another La Masia graduate,who is destined for greatness if he manages to stay fit. Gavi made his first team debut for FC Barcelona in 2021 at the age of 16. He took no time to settle in and formed a brilliant chemistry with Pedri at the heart of Barca midfield. His work rate,grit and determination added a much needed bite to the FC Barcelona midfield. Gavi never shied away from tackles and lead his team in pressing the opposition. He is also a classy ball carrier and dribbles past players with ease
. These qualities endeared him to Barca faithful. Unfortunately, FC Barcelona and Spanish FA treated Gavi in the similar manner to Pedri and played him too much. Finally the disaster struck in november 2023,Gavi tore his ACL while playing for Spain,which has effectively ruled him out for the entirety of this season.He may also miss Euro 2024.Obviously, It is a huge blow for his club and country. But it is Gavi who will suffer the most from this tragic episode. The Incompetent management just may have put his career in danger.
Just like Pedri,Gavi played in meaningless games too often. His national team coach played him in back to back games during the international break in November 2023,despite having already qualified for Euro 2024. ACL injuries aren’t that easy easy to recover from. Let’s hope Gavi returns the same player he was before the injury.
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